By Bruce Asemota
Baboucarr Sallah, a former operative of the defunct National Intelligence Agency (NIA) yesterday told the high court that he did not carry the corpse of Solo Sandeng to his grave in Tanji.
Opening his defence testimony before Justice Kumba Sillah-Camara at the high court in Banjul, Mr Sallah explained that he was posted at the Atlantic Hotel in Banjul on 14th April, 2016 and was there till at about 4am when he was called together with Tamba Mansaray by his commanding officer Haruna Susso to report at the NIA headquarters.
He told the court that upon arrival, he waited for a while before he was asked to board a vehicle and along with other vehicles went to the NIA complex in Tanji. He said as they were about to enter the complex, OC Susso asked him to alight the vehicle.
He said others entered the complex and later emerged. Among them he said were the fifth accused Yusupha Jammeh and the first prosecution witness Dawda Ndure. He said he boarded a vehicle along with the rest and returned to the NIA headquarters in Banjul where he took his motorbike and went back to the Atlantic Hotel.
Baboucarr Sallah told the court that he never had any contact with Nogoi Njie, Kafu Bayo, Modou Ngum, Ebrima Jabang, Fatou Camara and Fatoumatta Jawara on the 14th or the 15th of April 2016.
He said a prosecution witness Baboucarr Njie, lied to the court when he testified that he saw him and Tamba Mansaray escorting Solo Sandeng from the interrogation hall to the special operation unit.
He also denied the prosecution’s claim that Tamba Mansaray and himself carried the corpse of Solo Sandeng at the place he was buried.
Hearing continues today.
