The criminal trial of one Modou Camara resumed yesterday before Justice Moses Richards of the Special Criminal Court in Banjul.

The suspect is alleged to have threatened one Muhammed Singhateh with a cutlass and violently robbed him of the sum of D700 and a Nokia mobile phone valued at D2,000 on December 12, 2008, at Serrekunda in the Kanifing municipality.

Testifying before the court, one Lamin Keita, a gardener and a resident of Serrekunda, said he was called upon by one police officer, Foday Keita, to stand as an independent witness during the writing of the accused person's cautionary and voluntary statements. The witness said the investigating police officer asked the accused person questions and then wrote down his statements, which were later read to the accused person, who admitted the facts contained in them before they were signed.

The independent witness refuted the allegations that the accused was tortured, or battered before his statements were obtained. Meanwhile, DDPP Mikailu Abdulahi later informed the court that the prosecution was closing its case. Hearing continues on September 9, 2009.