One Modou Jobe, a driver from Babylon village, on Wednesday testified as Prosecution Witness 23 (PW 23) in the ongoing arson trial involving 47 accused persons before Magistrate Nkea of the Brikama Magistrates' Court.

In his evidence-in-chief, PW 23 said his brother Mbaye Gaye, now deceased, had a land in Babylon village that was given to him by the PW1 [Lamin Jarjue]. According to PW 23, his brother was building a house in Babylon and the building was at the roofing stage. He informed the court that on the evening of the day of the attack, PW1 called his brother through telephone and informed him about the attack and the following day he (PW 23) went to the village and realised that his brother’s house was destroyed.

He added that he also saw smoke all over the place. He also revealed that his brother spent D20, 000 in building the said house. The case was adjourned to 8th September 2010 for continuation.