Alhagie Manneh told the High Court in Banjul that he took the cautionary and voluntary statements of Mr Badjie last November. He said his role in the investigation was limited to the statements which he took in the presence of an independent witness, Basiru Drammeh.
He testified further that Mr Badjie denied the charges after his statements were recorded. The statements were admitted as exhibits to which defence lawyer, Lamin Camara, did not raise objection.
Under cross-examination, Mr Manneh said he did not know what transpired at the Gambian embassy in France when Badjie was the head of mission. “I would like to say that apart from recording the statement, you don’t know anything about this case,” Camara put to the officer who answered in the affirmative.” He said he did not know what work the independent witness does.
His response prompted the chief prosecutor, SH Barkun to ask him if the independent witness works with the police. This question was overruled by the judge, Simon Abi, when Badjie’s lawyer objected that there was ‘no ambiguity’ as the witness had already said he did not know where the independent witness works.
The case resumes next Thursday.
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