Bakary Bojang, a detective police officer currently in Basse Police Station, last Tuesday testified as prosecution witness eight in the ongoing D1.6 million dalasi theft case involving two NIA officers: Demba Sowe and Baboucarr Jallow.  

They are also charged with conspiracy and abuse of office. Testifying before Acting Principal Magistrate Kumba Sillah-Camara at the Bundung Magistrates Court, Bakary Bojang informed the court that he is a 37-year-old residing in Brikama.  According to him, during the said incident, he was attached to the Serious Crime Unit at the Banjul Police Headquarters before being moved to Basse Police Station.

According to him, he was at the Serious Crime Unit on 9th October 2008, at about 2PM when the duo were brought to his office from the NIA headquarters for further investigation.  He went on to tell the court that while in his office, both Demba Sowe and Baboucarr Jallow agreed to write their own voluntary statement.

He said the first accused, Demba Sowe, first wrote his cautionary statement in front of an independent witness (Abdoulie Njie) of which he (Bojang), then read in English to the accused. "The accused Demba Sowe claimed he understood the content of the voluntary statement before he signed it. The independent witness signed and I then counter signed the statement," he said.

He adduced that the second accused, Baboucarr Jallow also did write his own voluntary statement in front of an independent witness after which they both signed before he (Bojang) counter signed the statement. According to prosecution witness, the duo were also brought from Mile II prison to his office again on 10 October 2008.  "Here, they also wrote an additional voluntary statement in front of an independent witness (Abdoulie Njie) and then the accused persons signed, plus the independent witness after which I counter signed again. After obtaining the voluntary statements, I then reported the matter to my boss," he said.  

At that juncture, the representative of the DPP, AH Bakum, showed him the two voluntary statements plus the additional statements for identification.  Bojang then confirmed the statements and were then tendered and marked as exhibit in court. Lawyer Lamin Camara, counsel for the accused persons raised no objection on the statements. The case was then adjourned for continuation on Tuesday 26 May, 2009.