Mam Matarr Secka, the 2nd and co-accused person in the ongoing trial involving the former IGP, Ensa Badjie and Kuluteh Manneh Monday continued his defence before the Special Criminal Court in Banjul, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Nkea.

The accused persons, Ensa Badjie, Mam Matarr Secka and Kuluteh Manneh are standing trial on multiple charges ranging from conspiracy to do an act with seditious intention, sedition, obtaining money by false pretence, abuse of office, official corruption amongst others.

The 2nd accused person, Mam Matarr Secka in his testimony, on Monday 7th May 2012 told the court that, he never had any training in line with piloting. He further told the court that it is false information that the 3rd accused Kuluteh Manneh replaced him while he travelled.

Secka also revealed that he never had any gathering where the 1st, and 3rd, accused and Sillaba are present, saying that they are all fabrications and that God knows best. He further revealed that if one is to leave the country while in the armed forces, even your immediate Commander has no power to authorize it, adding that such application should be channeled through the Commander for verification via the Defence Ministry.

The 2nd accused person disclosed that it is practically impossible for one to transport things out of the country without the Commander knowing about it. The 2nd accused further disclosed that it is not true that he, the 1st, 3rd and Edriss had a meeting at Sillaba’s house.

Mam Matarr Secka told the court that it is not true the 1st accused gave the 3rd an amount of 1500 Euros in the presence of Edriss, adding that Edrisso has denied in court that he shared cash between the 2nd, 1st and 3rdaccused. Secka further told the court that he found a CD playing at Kotu Police Station in the presence of the Director General of NIA, the then IGP and Sillaba Samateh.

He adduced that the same Sillaba stated that the president gave him three personnel including himself, the 1st accused and the 3rd to guide him. He further adduced that he heard the voice of Ousman Bojang, Nema Ceesay, Edriss and the voice of a young boy later discovered as son of Sillaba Samateh. The 2nd accused stated that, he never heard his voice, neither that of the 1st and 3rd accused in the said CD. The 2nd accused further stated there was nothing like drug he heard on the CD and when the president’s name was not mentioned in the said CD.

Mam Matarr Secka informed the court that he heard Sillaba saying he never stated such in the said CD, adding that Sillaba stated that he was dealing with Edriss. The 2nd accused disclosed that Sillaba’s refusal resulted to Edriss threatening Sillaba that he will do something to him, adding that this resulted to Edriss staging an allegation against Sillaba.

The 2nd accused further disclosed that he never took money from Nema Ceesay to buy Tobaski ram, saying that he is a responsible man and a civil servant and can take one by six if he didn’t have money to buy ram for the Tobaski.