ex-Minister Janneh
Friday, November 18, 2011
(Daily News) Police criminal investigator yesterday
revealed that a Gambian pressure group that planned to stage regime change
protests against the Jammeh administration has eight objectives.
These,
police officer Ousman Topp spelt out include: to repeal laws, give equal access
to all political parties, introduce presidential term limit, and stop arbitrary
arrests and detentions, among others.
“So is
there anything in the stated objectives that shows CCG [Coalition for Change,
The Gambia] wants to overthrow Gambia government” defense lawyer Lamin Camara
quizzed the state witness, but he responded in the negative.
The police
investigator was testifying against four treason suspects, including a former
Gambian Information minister.
Dr Amadou
Scattred Janneh is charged with three others for treason, conspiracy and
sedition at Banjul Magistrates’ Court. The other accused persons are Michel C.
Ucheh Thomas, Modou Keita and Ebrima Jallow.
They are
accused of printing and distributing T-Shirts bearing ‘Coalition for Change The
Gambia, End Dictatorship Now’ with intent to effect unlawful change of
government in The Gambia.
Meanwhile,
during Wednesday proceedings, Mr Topp affirmed that there was no violent
demonstration in The Gambia to overthrow president Yahya Jammeh’s government.
Ousman
Topp, who had said the alleged Coalition for Change The Gambia (CCGTG) planned
‘regime change protests’ in The Gambia was set to coincide with president
Jammeh’s birthday, confirmed that it never happened.
“There was no violent demonstration to
overthrow The Gambia government,” Mr. Topp, first class constable told the
Special Criminal Court in Banjul Wednesday.
Mr Topp
said, he found the T-Shirts that were suppose to be worn during the
demonstration very offensive.
“It is very
offensive because The Gambia refers to the government and end dictatorship
refers to the president” he said.
Even though
Mr Topp agreed that there is no name in CCG Gmail account to verify who sent
the messages, he insisted in court that it was done by Dr Janneh.
“Why is it
the 1st accused since they all have the same user name and password,” the
Judge, Emmeneal Nkea intervened but the witness insisted it was Dr Janneh.
He said Dr
Janneh gave him his personal email account during investigations but could not
show it to the court when counsel Camara demanded him to do so.
“Was his
(Dr Janneh) name in the messages you printed out,” Camara quizzed but the
witness replied in the negative
“Then how
can you say it was sent by the 1st accused person,” the judge further inquired.
“The user name CCGTH411@gmail.com,” the witness responded.
Mr Topp
said the printout did not indicate that Dr Janneh sent the messages. He denied
lawyer Camara’s suggestion that the printed emails were fed into the computer
by The Gambia Police Force.
He however
said findings have shown that Dr Janneh has planned to end president Jammeh’s
regime.
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