By Abdelkarim Jaiteh
Ensa Mendy, a former bodyguard to the embattled former AFPRC junta member and minister, Yankuba Touray was the second state witness to testify before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh when the case resumed on Tuesday for continuation of hearing.
Testifying before a hushed packed court room, Mr Mendy a former security officer and orderly to the suspect, Yankuba Touray told the court he was enlisted in The Gambia National Army in May 1990 and during his career, he served as a personal bodyguard to Mr Touray from August 1994 to 2001.
When asked by the state counsel, AM Yusuf whether he recognized the suspect, Yankuba Touray and explained to the court what had transpired between them in June 1995 during his time as his bodyguard.
Mendy explained that in June 1995, the then Chairman of AFPRC, Yahya Jammeh was travelling to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia while the suspect was the then minister of Local Government and Lands.
He recalled that the suspect informed him that the chairman was travelling to Ethiopia, noting that they closed from work at 4 pm and went to the suspect house for lunch.
“After the lunch we returned to the State House where the council members met and join the convoy. And upon arrival, all the council members went in to meet the chairman for almost an hour before they came out and headed for airport,” the witness told the court.
He further recalled the suspect asked him to go home with the driver as he will join one of the council members. “I called the driver, Lamin Ndure to inform him that we are asked by the suspect to go home. We went home at around 6 to 7 PM and later I received telephone call from the suspect that I should go along with his home guard on a beach patrol around BB hotel areas in Fajara. That there was a threat so they should patrol to know what was going on there. I went there with some bodyguards but I cannot remember their names,” Mr Mendy explained.
Mr Mendy further recalled that while they were patrolling on the beach, they did not see any unusual movement as they were told so he called the suspect to inform him but they were asked by the suspect, Mr Touray to continue their patrol until he called them to come back home.
The matter was adjourned at that point to October 24 when the witness is expected to continue with his testimony.
Earlier last week, the state counsel AM Yusuf informed the court their intention to call seven witnesses during the trial.
The suspect, Yankuba Touray is being tried on murder charge for his alleged involvement in the murder of the former junta finance minister, Ousman “Koro” Ceesay. Mr Touray however refused to give evidence when he appeared before the TRRC while claiming constitutional immunity and since then he has been detained at the State Central Prison in Mile2.
