By Omar Bah
The State yesterday dropped charges against former local government minister Yankuba Touray and former speaker Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay, who were standing trial for alleged witness tampering after TRRC witness Alagie Kanyi claimed they called him over matters relating to his then planned testimony at the commission.
When the case was called at the high court yesterday Justice Aminata Saho-Ceesay announced that the duo has been discharged under the application of State Counsel AN Yusuf.
Reacting to the court ruling, Lawyer LS Camara who appeared for the second accused applied for the court to give the accused persons their documents including their travelling documents.
His application was immediately granted by Justice Saho-Ceesay.
During his appearance at the court as first prosecution witness, Alagie Kanyi, a former military officer told the court that he was called by the two accused persons.
However, while under cross-examination, Kanyi contradicted himself informing the court that the two accused persons never advised him against appearing before the TRRC.
Meanwhile, confirming this development at a press conference yesterday, the Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou told journalists that interfering with a TRRC witness is a very serious offence “and I hope there are lessons here for everyone”.
“I take this opportunity to renew my call for all witnesses or potential witnesses to cooperate fully with the TRRC,” he said, warning that any attempt to undermine the TRRC, a national healing process, “in any manner will bear serious consequences”.
