By Bruce Asemota
A prosecution witness (name withheld) yesterday told Justice F.A. Achibonga of the High Court in Banjul that the accused, Ismaila Ndong used her headtie to blindfold her and asked her to lie on his lap.
The lady, who is testifying as the 7th prosecution witness in the criminal trial involving the state against the accused, said it was in the evening sometime around November 25th 2019 when she boarded the accused person’s taxi at the Traffic Lights along Kairaba Avenue en-route to Bakau.
She explained that the accused was in the company of another person who was driving and on getting to Sabena/Emporium junction, the accused jumped on her and asked her to keep quiet, threatening to kill her if she shouted.
The witness revealed that the accused person was holding a pair of scissors and a knife, adding that he took her cell phone, her handbag containing her personal effects like wrist watch, perfume amongst others.
She disclosed that the accused person removed her headtie, blindfold her and asked her to lie on his lap.
The witness told the court that she pleaded with the accused to leave her now that he has taken everything from her.
She further told the court that the accused slapped her and asked her to keep quiet and that they were not done with her yet.
She revealed that they drove towards the Independence Stadium and on getting to a point, they stopped and she heard the accused say ‘here is not safe, there are some people here.’ She said they started driving and on getting a point around Sting Corner, she was pushed out of the car and her hand bag thrown on her.
The case was adjourned to the 19th January, 2021 for continuation of cross examination of the witness.
