Senior Lamin J. Darboe continued with his marathon cross-examination of Mama Jabbi, who said he was the one who reported the alleged police shooter, Ousainou Bojang, while in Jululung, Senegal.
Ousainou Bojang, a resident of Brufut was charged with murder, attempted murder, terrorist act, and assault causing grievous bodily harm. Ousainiu’s sister, Amie Bojang, was charged with Accessory After the Fact to Murder.
Mama Jabbi was inter-paused to allow a witness from Qcell to provide the call records of her Qcell line. When the case was announced State counsel A.M. Yusuf announced his appearance for the prosecution, while Counsel Lamin J. Darboe represented the first accused and Counsel H. Farage represented the second accused.
Counsel J. Darboe informed the court that they had a witness from Qcell, and Omar Cham, a legal officer at Qcell, tendered the call records of Mama Jabbi’s Qcell number. There was no objection from the State counsel, and the court admitted and marked the document into evidence. Omar Cham was discharged and Lawyer Darboe proceeded to cross-examine Mama Jabbi.
Counsel J. Darboe began the cross-examination by asking Mama Jabbi about removing her SIM card due to insults received through her phone. Mama Jabbi stated that she removed her Qcell and Africell SIM cards because of the insults she had received after divulging the information on social media about the incident. She informed the court that she stopped using her Qcell two months ago while her Africell sim was too was removed.
Lawyer Lamin J. Darboe told Mama Jabbi that she was using her Africell SIM card recently, but Mama Jabbi denied it. Counsel Darboe requested exhibit C1 from the court. Counsel J. Darboe said the call logs from Africell showed that she was using her phone until 22 November 2023. Mama Jabbi maintained that she was not using it.
Counsel J. Darboe moved on to ask Mama Jabbi about one Musa Camara, an employee of GRA who she said was the person she called to inform him that he was with the alleged police shooter.
Mama Jabbi confirmed to the court that she knew Musa Camara’s mother, whose name she stated was Mainuna Barrow, and a resident of Yundum Yarambamba.
When Lawyer Darboe asked if the witness was related to President Barrow, State Counsel A.M. Yusuf objected claiming that the answer would be hearsay. Counsel Lamin J. Darboe argued that the question aimed to elicit factual evidence.
Trial Judge, Justice Ebrima Jaiteh overruled the objection and held that the question sought to bring out facts.
Mama Jabbi answered that Mainuna Barrow is related to the President. Counsel Darboe further questioned Mama Jabbi about the details of their relationship, to which the witness responded that they are related through both parents.
Counsel Darboe told the witness that her testimony under cross-examination contradicted her initial testimony during evidence-in-chief. During her testimony, Mama Jabbi had earlier denied knowing how Musa Camara’s mother is related to the President. The witness said she never said that she did not know President Adama Barrow’s relationship with Musa Camera’s mother even though the Lawyer read her testimony to her.
Counsel Darboe asked Mama Jabbi about her visit to Mankamang Kunda, President Adama Barrow’s hometown in the last three months. Mama Jabbi stated that she could not remember. Counsel Darboe then put to her (Mama Jabbi) that she was physically present in Mamkamang Kunda on 30 September 2023, 1 October 2023, and 12 October 2023. The Counsel was making reference to her call records. Mama Jabbi denied that saying she only passed the village to attend a burial. She stated that she couldn’t remember going to Mankamang Kunda.
Counsel Darboe told Mama that her claim that Ousainou told her he killed two officers and injured one at that hospital is fabricated the story against the Ousainou (Accused Person) to get One Million Dalasi (D1,000,000) promised by the President. The State counsel objected to the question stating that it was an insult to the witness as he made citations from the Evidence Act. The presiding Judge allowed the question. Mama Jabbi denied fabricating any story.
Counsel Lamin J. Darboe put to Mama (the witness) that the statement she made in court, apart from her age, occupation, and address in Sukuta, is purely imaginary, including her evidence during examination-in-chief. In response, the witness affirmed that everything she stated in court was factual, emphasizing that she had taken an oath on the holy Quran, and she stood by her testimony anywhere she was questioned.
Counsel H. Farage for the second accused (Amie Bojang) then took over for the cross-examination and questioned Mama Jabbi about Ousainou Bojang borrowing her phone to call his sister. Mama Jabbi confirmed that he had asked to borrow her phone.
Counsel Farage asked Mama Jabbi about the timing of the event, and she stated that it occurred on a Wednesday at 14:00. He then inquired about the time Yai Faal (Mama’s) received a call from the safe garage, to which Mama Jabbi responded that it was the same time as Ousainou’s arrival.
When asked about the message Yai Faal received during the call, Mama Jabbi stated that the safety garage informed her that Ousainou was coming.
Counsel Farage requested Mama Jabbi’s statement and read from it, stating that Mama Jabbi told the police that a call came from a safety garage directing a person for marabout work. Mama Jabbi denied that part of the statement.
Counsel Farage questioned Mama Jabbi about the arrival of Ousainou with a motorcycle, which contradicted her previous statements. The State counsel objected, claiming that this question contradicted the witness’s evidence without specifying it. The presiding Judge ruled that the court would determine the factuality of the statement.
Counsel Farage asked Mama Jabbi about the reading of her statement before signing it. Mama Jabbi confirmed that it was read to her.
When asked what Ousainou told her when borrowing the phone, Mama Jabbi stated that he said he was going to call his sister. When pressed about which sister, Mama Jabbi did not know.
Counsel Farage pointed out that Mama Jabbi’s statement indicated that Ousainou borrowed her phone to call his family, not just his sister. Mama Jabbi explained that she did not say that; it was how the statement was written.
Counsel Farage highlighted the discrepancy between Mama Jabbi’s testimony and her statement, arguing that the statement was not factual. The State counsel objected, stating that the court would determine the factuality of the statement. The objection was overruled, and Mama Jabbi confirmed that she told the police about Ousainou borrowing her phone to call his sister not family.
At this point, the defense concluded his questioning, and Mama Jabbi was discharged. The case was adjourned until the tomorrow for fourth state witness at 10:00
By: Kexx Sanneh
