Marie Sanneh, the 4th accused person in the ongoing criminal trial involving the state against the former top NDEA officials opened her defence yesterday, Thursday 9th February 2012 before the Special Criminal Court in Banjul, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Nkea.

Led by herlawyer PCO Secka, Sanneh told the court that she paid the sum of D40, 000 and D100, 000 respectively to the 5th accused, Seedou Bojang, who was the Finance director of the NDEA, adding that the said monies were given to her by one Kelipha Jatta. Marie Sanneh further told the court that she was given receipts for the payment for the said amount.

At this point, the two receipts, defence exhibit one and two were shown to her, which she identified. The witness revealed that she had visited the 1st accused, Ibrahim Bun Sanneh on other occasions, for her personal problems, adding that the personal problems had noting to do with the case of the Jatta’s family.

The 4th accused pointed out that she went to seek help from the 1st accused who was her father, because she had financial problems. The witness said when she went to meet the 1st accused to seek assistance, the 1st accused called the 5th accused, but the 5th accused told her father, the 1st accused that there was no money.

The 4th accused revealed that she remembered making a statement at the NIA in April 2010, when she stated that she took D70, 000 from the 1st accused. The witness disclosed that prior to making the said statement, she was severely slapped and beaten by some officials of the NIA namely Omar Cham, Alhagi Morr Jobe, Lamin Darboe, in which her earring fell and she was cleared and she fell down. The witness said she was pregnant at the time, but lost her pregnancy and when she told them that she was pregnant, they told her that she would deliver that ‘bastard’ in the prison.

Hearing continues on the 15th, 22nd and 27th February 2012.