By Dawda M Jallow
Mariama Gibba, mother of Pa Musa Saball who is standing trial for threatening to kill her on Thursday appeared at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court to testify against her son as the first prosecution witness in a case presided over by Magistrates’ Mben Faal.
The accused Pa Musa Sabally was charged with threatening violence contrary to Section 84 (a) of the Criminal Code Cap 10.01 volume 3 Laws of the Gambia 2009.
The prosecution alleges that Pa Musa Sabally on the 5th day of November 2024, at Kotu in the Kanifing Municipal Council of the Republic of The Gambia, with intent to intimidate or annoy, threatened to kill his mother Mariama Gibba and attempted to burn down her house, thereby committed an offense, a charge he denied.
Prosecutor E.M Jallow who represented the Inspector General of Police for the matter asked Mariama Gibba if she recognized the accused person, she responded in the affirmative and narrated that the accused was sleeping in the living room of their house and that when she met him there sleeping, she switched on light because it was at night and the place was dark.
‘’When I switched the light on, the accused said I should not switch on the light. He started complaining saying all sorts of words that I don’t understand, but that time he was not with his senses. I tried to calm him because I realized that he was not with his senses and that was when he left the room and started insulting me, stating that he was going to kill me and burn my house, but I didn’t blame him because he was drunk at the time,’’ Mariama told the court.
She informed the court that when her other son heard the noise and insults, he asked who was making those insults and making noise. ‘’When he confirmed who that person was, he then decided to call the Anti-crime Unit.’’
Continuing her narration, Mariama stated that after his arrest, he was detained at the Kotu Police Station. The prosecution asked whether that was the first time Pa Musa acted or behaved that way. The prosecution witness replied that Pa Musa sometimes behaves that way if he is drunk.
Marima in answering questions as to who was around when Pa Musa was misbehaving stated that his younger siblings were present. She also confirmed that she has not been reporting his misbehaviour to the police because she felt he was not doing it intentionally also adding no one prays for their child to be in such a condition even though she felt ashamed and sometimes got angry, but that for him being a family member, patience and hope guided her actions.
Under cross-examination By Pa Musa, who asked if his elder brother was around at the time of the incident. Mariama replied that his elder brother was not there, but his younger sister called the elder brother and he heard the noise that was when he called the Anti-crime to arrest him.
Magistrate M. Faal, in his ruling, granted bail to Pa Musa in the sum of D10,000.00 with two Gambian sureties who shall deposit their valid national identity card or passport and depose to an affidavit of means. Pa Musa was also ordered to maintain peace when he returned to his family pending the determination of the case. He was also cautioned that failure to maintain peace, he would be taken to Mile ll. The matter was adjourned to Monday the 16 of December for continuation.
