Posted by By Halimatou Ceesay
The 10th prosecution witness in the murder trial involving NIA officials, Pa Sireh Mboob, has said that he saw Tamba Masireh, the 7th accused person beating Nogoi Njie at the NIA Headquarters in Banjul. He made this revelation today, 7th February, 2018 before Justice Kumba Sillah Camara of the Banjul High Court.
The accused persons are: Yankuba Badjie, former Director of NIA, Louis Gomez, former Deputy Director of NIA, Saikou Omar Jeng, former Director of Operations NIA, Haruna Susso, Yusupha Jammeh, Tamba Masireh, Lamin Darboe, Baboucarr Sallah and Lamin Lang Sanyang, a doctor.
Testifying further Mr. Mboob said after seeing Nogoi pleading with them to allow her tie her wrapper and Tamba hitting and beating her, he (witness) went directly to the conference hall, adding that that was the time they started bringing in the suspects for the interview.
He added that the first person brought in for the interview was Nogoi Njie. He said Kebba Secka was the one doing the interview. He said he was there with Kebba Secka, Lamin Ceesay, Bora Njie, Assan Badjie and Babou Njie. He said Assan Badjie and Babou Njie are photographers while Bora is an investigator.
The witness went on to state that Nogoi was crying visibly, adding that the other people brought were Fatoumata Jawara, Fatou Camara, and Solo Sandeng. He said in his observation, Solo Sandeng appeared groggy and shaken, his head swollen. He said both Fatoumata Jawara and Fatou Camara had a similar appearance, crying and unable to sit on the chair.
When asked if he knows why they are in that condition, he said they were suffering from pain. When asked if he found out how they came to be in that condition, he said he did not. He said the interview started about 8pm, adding that among the questions they were asked were who organized the protest at Westfield and whether Ousainou Darboe was aware of it.
He added that the suspects were brought in one after the other and his role was to jot down notes. He disclosed that Lamin Ceesay and Kebba Secka asked the questions while Bora took notes. He said the interview lasted till 01:00 am but noted that he could not remember the number of people interviewed. He said Assan Badjie and Babou Njie took video of the proceedings.
He said Tamba Masireh, Lamin Darboe and Sallah were in the hall and that he knew them before that day. He said when the trio entered the hall they called out Solo Sandeng, surrounded him, tied him and took him away. He stated that Solo Sandeng was bound hand and feet and a rope tied around his neck. He said this took place at the doorway of the conference hall. The witness further testified that Lamin Darboe was holding the rope pulling Solo as Tamba and Sallah followed.
At that Juncture the UDP Flag bearer and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ousainou Darboe entered the court room accompanied by his orderly to witness the sittings.
Continuing his testimony the witness was asked to come down from the dock, walk to where the accused are seated and identify the names he mentioned earlier. He came down, walking up to where the accused where seated and identified Tamba Masireh, Lamin Darboe and Baboucarr Sallah by touching them with his hands.
He said after the interview, he was asked to go home by his Commanding Officer, Lamin Ceesay, recalling that while going home, he passed through the rear of the security gate where he found Solo Sandeng lying flat on a mattress under a fan, motionless.
Hearing continues on Monday, 12th February, 2018.