Home : News : Gambia: David Colley's Trial, Witness Saysa David Sent for Generator
Gambia: David Colley's Trial, Witness Saysa David Sent for Generator
Abdou Jeli Keita
As the ongoing criminal trial involving David Colley former Director General of Prisons continues at the Banjul Magistrates Court, a prison officer told the court in his testimony that David Colley sent two officers to collect a generator from Mile 2 Prison. Sergeant Malang Manneh of prisons and major crime unit police detective, Corporal Kujabi, fifth and sixth prosecution witnesses, respectively, were cross examined by defence counsel Antouman Gaye.
Sergeant Manneh in his testimony said that on 22 September 2004, while he was at the gate lodge of the Juvenile Wing at Jeshwang, a vehicle drove in with two officers (Haruna Jobe and Famara Sanneh). He said, they then ordered his junior, Jainaba Touray, to book their entry and he then went out to confirm about their mission.
He added that they told him that David Colley sent them to collect a generator; that he opened the carton to confirm its content and which was a generator. He said the colour of the generator is red. He added that the two men left with the generator.
Defence counsel Antouman Gaye, put it to the witness that the evidence before the court is that the present prison boss (Rose Klyn) sent Haruna Jobe to collect the generator while he was now informing the court that it was the accused (David Colley) who sent them to collect the generator. Counsel Gaye, proceeded to ask the witness as to which of the two pieces of evidence the court should recognise.
Prosecutor Touray argued that the evidence before the court does not say Rose Klyn sent for the collection of the generator but rather David Colley.
Counsel Gaye, further asked the witness if he was aware that David Colley obtained the permission of the then Deputy Director Rose Klyn before collecting the generator. The witness said he was not aware.
Detective Corporal Kujabi, attached to the major crime unit at police headquarters, in his testimony said that on the 25 June 2007, something transpired between him and the accused David Colley. On this said date, he was deployed to the state Central Prison, better known as Mile 2, for investigation. Upon arrival at Mile 2, he said, he met David Colley, who was under detention and interrogated him about the alleged stolen generator. He added that, David Colley admitted at one time that the generator was donated to the Juvenile Wing by the Social Development Fund; that he was having a wedding ceremony and he borrowed the generator from his Deputy for that purpose. According to the witness, David Colley said the borrowed generator was given to him, that it broke down on the wedding day and he took it to a mechanic for repairs. The witness, detective Kujabi, said he asked David Colley to lead him to the mechanic to recover the generator. He said David Colley led him to the mechanic in Ebo Town and the generator was collected. He added that, on their way back to Banjul, they passed by Mile 2 to drop David Colley together with the generator. He said, he asked the Deputy to identify it and after doing so, the Deputy said that it was not the generator she gave to David Colley, arguing she gave him a brand new generator. He said, the Deputy Rose Klyn was asked to give a supplementary statement and the generator was transported to police headquarters.
While under cross-examination, the witness when asked by defence counsel if he has gone to Rose Klyn to verify the statement of the accused, he said he did not, because that was outside the instructions given to him. When asked by the defence counsel if he told the accused person his rights, the witness said he didn't because, David Colley is a senior officer whom he assumed should know his rights more than he did. Defence counsel Antouman Gaye, at this stage, put it to the witness that he should be competent and compelling and should he deliberately refuse to answer his questions, he will order the Magistrate to put him under custody until he is in a position to answer his questions. Defence counsel Gaye added that, the case is a cat and mouse game, that the witness should be serious in answering his questions. Prosecutor Touray at this juncture informed the court that the case is in two folds and they are almost finished with the first part.
The trial is adjourned till 23 August 2007, for continuation.
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