By Binta A Bah
Justice Bakri of the high court complex at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court had rejected prosecution’s request to tender and play an audio purported to be a conversation between the former permanent secretary at the ministry of fisheries Bamba Banja and a Chinese interpreter, Ming Ning.
Prosecutors attempted to tender a compact disc purportedly circulating on the internet but Bamba Banja’s lawyer Abdoulie Fatty objected, arguing that the prosecutor S.L Jobarteh has not laid the proper foundation urging the court to reject it.
Justice Bakri agreed with the defense lawyer, saying admitting the audio without complying with section 22 (4) contradicts the Evidence Act and subsequently marked it as rejected.
Meanwhile, the judge has also refused the prosecutor’s request to interpose the testimony of their witness Essa Sowe of the fraud squad unit. The judge said he will only hear another witness when Sowe completes giving evidence. Trial continues February 16.
Banja is on trial on three charges of economic crimes. He denied any wrong doing.
