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By Ousman A. Marong
A former soldier of
the Gambia National Army (GNA) Alagie Kanyie has on Friday, March 22, 2019,
testified in the ongoing trial of Yankuba Touray, ex-minister and a member of
the AFPRC military junta; and Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay, (FJC) an ex-Speaker
of the National Assembly, at the Kanifing Magistrate's Court.
The two accused
persons, Yankuba Touray and FJC are jointly facing 3 counts of criminal charges,
contrary to the laws of The Gambia.
When the case was
called before Principal Magistrate Isatou Janneh of the Kanifing Magistrate's
Court, police prosecutor ASP Almameh Manga appeared for the Inspector General
of Police whilst Lawyer Abdou Aziz Sissoho represented the accused persons.
When the new charges were read, both accused persons denied the charges.
According to the
particulars of offence; the accused persons are jointly charged with
conspiracy to commit felony, contrary to Section 368 of the Criminal Code and
each of them face a single charge of interfering with information or witness,
contrary to Section 36 (a) of the TRRC Act.
The particulars of
offence stated that the two accused persons agreed among themselves to
influence, discourage or stop one Alagie Kanyi, a potential witness from
testifying before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission
(TRRC).
Testifying before
the court as the first prosecution witness (PW1), Alagie Kanyi said he is
working with the Gambia Immigration Department (GID) and he is a native of
Jarra Sankuya in the Lower River Region (LRR). He said before working with
the GID, he was member of the Gambia National Army (GNA).
He told the court
that he knew the first accused person Yankuba Touray in the army and
recognized the second accused person as a former Speaker of the National
Assembly.
Narrating what
transpired between him and the accused persons, Kanyi said there was a day in
the month of January 2019, when he received a call from someone who identified
herself as Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay. He added that the person who called him
was speaking in Wollof and told him that it is Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay.
Kanyi narrated that lady then told him that she recognized him at Edward
Singhateh’s residence.
Kanyi adduced that
FJC referred to him as an orderly to Edward Singhateh and that she got his
number from Yankuba Touray. He added that the lady also enquired whether the
TRRC has called him (the witness).
PW1 told the court
that he responded that he was called by the TRRC in relation to the November
11, 1994 incident. Kanyi revealed that Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay told him not
to mind them (The TRRC) and asked him whether his mother is alive.
"I told her yes
my mother is around and she told me to be doing good things for her so that
she will pray for me," he said.
The witness told the
court that Fatoumata Jahumpa asked him where he was and he told her that he
was in Soma going home to Sankuya. He said Fatoumata Jahumpa further asked
her whether the number she called him on is the one he is using on WhatsApp
and he responded in the affirmitive. Kanyi said Madam Jahumpa promised to
send him something whenever she reaches Dakar because she was on a trip,
adding that there was where their conversation ended.
"When she cuts
off the call, I then called her back and thanked her for the good advice. I
told her that I need her advice because the TRRC is not easy," he said.
He said the number
he was using on WhatsApp is 7633692. He told the court that, this was his
first conversation with Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay; adding that he has never
had any previous communications with her.
The witness said it
was on the same day when Yankuba Touray called him around 9pm towards 10 pm
and identified himself as Yanks with regimental number 10529.
"He said is me
Yankuba Touray and even told me his Army number which is 10529. I then
respond to him yes sir because I recognized the voice and he told me did
these people call you? I asked him which people. He then told me the
TRRC," the witness narrated.
He said Touray
inquired whether he went to the TRRC and what issues did the investigators
asked him. Kanyi said he responded that he was called by the TRRC but he was
yet to be asked about the issues.
He explained that
thereafter, Touray told him don't mind them (the TRRC) and he Touray also
enquired from him whether Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay called him because he gave
her his number. Kanyi said he responded in the positive.
“He (Yanks) told me don't mind them (the
TRRC), these people are only here for two years and they will fuck off from
there,” Kanyi testified.
He said the
following day when he called Touray to go first to the TRRC because he was
their commander, ‘he told me don’t mind them’.
The witness said
that he then called Touray for the second time and asked about the people
captured during the November 11 incident. He said Touray told him that those
people dance to their own tune because their intention was to kill them (the
AFPRC members).
The matter was then
adjourned to the 2nd and 5th of April 2019 at 2 pm and 10 am respectively for
the continuation of hearing.
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| Yankuba Touray flank on left, Alhagi Kanyi in the middle followed by FJC (photo credit Yankuba Jallow) |
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