By: Nicholas Bass
On Tuesday, the state’s first prosecution witness, Lamin Y.A. Sanneh, failed to ascertain the number of panel members he was part of in the trial of three Bissau Guineans on money laundering and drug-related charges.
In dramatic testimony before the Banjul High Court, Sanneh stammered during cross-examination when the defenselawyer, Sheriff M. Tembedou, questioned him about the number of persons who were part of a panel set by the state to look into his client’s accusations. He stated that he could not remember if there were other people who were initially charged alongside the three Guineans.
Sanneh stated that he could not recall the number of panel members tasked to look into the allegations of money laundering, possession of drugs, and prohibited drug trafficking against Pulo Djabi, Ndadine Ismael De Gou Veira, and Mamadu Neto Djabi.
According to the prosecution witness, the panel was comprised of different security officials from the State Intelligence Services (SIS), Immigration, Police, and the Crime Unit, stating that Paulo Djabi was arrested during the investigations of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT).
Sanneh told the court the Joint Investigation Team was set up at the time to look into the suspicion against Paulo Djabi, stating that the said team was set up because of ”suspicion and not alleged”.
”The team was set up because of suspicion of the alleged crime, meaning the accused was suspected of money laundering and possession of prohibited drugs,” the state prosecution witness said.
Sanneh agreed with defense lawyer Tembedou that the 3rd accused Mamadu Neto Djabi stated in his cautionary statement that he was arrested on 27 August 2023, which was a day after he arrived in The Gambia, saying that a search was conducted at Mamadu’s house at Baraka Estate.
Meanwhile, Paulo Djabi and his alleged female associate and wife Ndadine Ismael De Gou Veira are jointly standing trial for possession of prohibited drugs and dealing. Paulo Djabi is separately charged with money laundering and currency disclosure. His alleged nephew, Mamadu Neto Djabi, is facing a separate charge of possession of prohibited drugs. Neto Djabi and Gou Veira are jointly charged with money laundering.