The three counts criminal  charges of treason filed in against the former chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) Lang Tombong Tamba and seven other accused persons before the presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Amadi of the High Court, draws to an end as the last accused person Youseff Ezzedine, entered into his defence.

Youseff Ezzedine, the eighth accused, last Friday entered into his defence at the end of the evidence-in-chief adduced by the seventh accused Abdoulie Joof alias Lie Joof, who started giving his evidence on Thursday and ended on Friday the 11th of June 2010. Youseff Ezzedine's testimony will mark the end of evidence from the accused persons, and that will also set the pace for the court to adjourn the case for both the prosecution and defence team to either file in their written or oral addresses on the case, which will be followed by adoption of the addresses, before the case will be finally adjourned for judgement.

The evidence of the seventh and the eighth accused persons, Abdoulie Joof alias Lie Joof and Youseff Ezzedine respectively,  like their co-accused persons, covered their lives, professional career, work relations and contact details with each of the other accused persons, the 21st March 2006 foiled coup led by Colonel Ndure Cham, the alleged November 2009 coup plot among others. When the case was mentioned for continuation, Lie Joof mounted the witness box to complete his evidence-in-chief before living the space for the last accused Youseff Ezzedine to start giving his version of the alleged November 2009 coup plot.

Lie Joof spoke extensively among other things of his 1000 percent loyalty to the Gambian leader, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, his support to the APRC, and his work as a clearing and forwarding agent at the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) among others. According to Lie Joof, Marreh was brought before the panel, but before PW1, Ebrima Marreh appeared before the panel, he (Lie Joof) was asked to go inside the toilet attached to the conference room where the panel of investigators were.

Lie Joof said whilst he was escorted to the toilet, the door of the toilet was left ajar and he was asked to listen to what PW1, Ebrima Marreh was going to tell the panel. Lie Joof told the court that he heard PW1 tell the panel that he (Lie Joof) attended a charity at the first accused, (Lang Tombong's) house in Kololi and PW15, an NIA officer, then asked PW1, Ebrima Marreh to describe him. According to Lie Joof, PW1, Ebrima Marreh described him as a short man with a big stomach, who drives a white car. The seventh accused stated that after the panel observed that PW1 Ebrima Marreh description was incorrect, PW15 took PW1 back.

Lie Joof told the court that he was inside the toilet when PW1, Ebrima Marreh gave the said description and he was listening, but he never saw him and he was not at anytime with PW1, Ebrima Marreh. Lie Joof further told the court that after PW1, Ebrima Marreh left the conference room he was called up from the toilet and asked to sit down and whilst sitting, PW15 ordered another NIA officer to bring the first accused, Lang Tombong who subsequently came in.

Lie Joof revealed that upon the arrival of the first accused, Lang Tombong, the panel enquired from him (Lang Tombong) if he knew him (Lie Joof) and when was the last time he saw him, and the first accused replied that it was during his father's funeral in Siffoe.

Lie Joof further revealed that the panel also asked the first accused if he (Lie Joof) has ever visited him in his house, but the first accused replied that he has doubts as to whether the seventh accused (Lie Joof) has ever been to his house. Lie Joof told the court that the first accused was then given a blank statement form and asked to write a statement indicating the questions he was asked relating to him (Lie Joof). The seventh accused further told the court that he was advised by the then deputy CDS, Yankuba Drammeh to exercise patience, noting that he (Drammeh) was accused as well and was arrested when he was going to the mosque and kept till 5.00 am.

The seventh accused said after the interrogation at the NIA office he was taken to the Mile 2 Central Prisons, and was there from the 21st of November 2009 to the 1st of February 2010. He told the court that just after midday on the 1st of February 2010, he was taken to the office of DG of NIA, together with the second accused, Omar Bun Mbye. He said whilst there, together with some senior NIA officers, and PW15, an NIA officer, the DG of NIA informed him that they have been released by the president on the recommendation of the panel. Lie Joof further explained that the DG of NIA then apologised to them for their long stay and detention and asked them to take their ordeal in good faith. "The panel who investigated the cases said there was nothing against us," Lie Joof added.

Re-Arrest
Lie Joof said that at about 10.00 am on the 2nd of February 2010, as he was travelling to Banjul to see his doctor, he received a telephone call from the NIA, requesting that he report to their office and upon arrival at the NIA office, he went straight to the NIA director of Operations office, whom he met and asked him to wait, saying that the DG of NIA wanted to see him. Lie Joof said after waiting for about 30 minutes, the second accused, Omar Bun Mbye arrived, and five minutes later, the eighth accused, Youseff Ezzedine also arrived. The defense witness told the court that they waited till 4.00pm, before the director of Operations informed them that the DG of NIA was unable to face them and tell them that the case has taken a new twist, as the DG of NIA was ashamed to see them.

Lie Joof further told the court that the director of Operations informed them that they have investigated everything, but they found nothing against them, and as a result they were released, but added that their re-arrest was ordered by the DPP,s office, and  that the DPP, Richard Chenge was handling and studying the file noting that the NIA requires a legal backing from the DPP?s office. The seventh accused revealed that the director of Operations further told them that he would be knocking at the DPP?s office door for speedy feedback, but they were subsequently taken back to Mile 2 Central Prisons.

Visits to the DPP's office
The seventh accused, Lie Joof said on the 9th of February 2010, he was taken to the DPP's office in Banjul and upon arrival, the DPP, Richard Chenge, told him that he was involved in a coup plot and was one of the financiers.

Lie Joof further said the DPP however offered to release him if he makes a witnesses statement, admitting that he knows something about the coup plot. Lie Joof also said he then told the DPP that he cannot make a statement to be a witness for something that he has no knowledge of or didn't exist. He further said he told the DPP that he is a staunch supporter of the president and the APRC and he was 68 years old, with three wives with so many children and that one of his wives has been an adopted sister to the president since 1990 and he (Lie Joof) was adopted as the father of Sola Town Ward of the Banjul APRC women's wing.

The seventh accused told the court that he informed the DPP that he was sick, but the DPP telephoned the NIA and requested that that he should be taken to the hospital, but the NIA responded that there was a clinic at the Mile 2 Central Prisons and he was then led out of the DPP's office and taken back to the prison. Lie Joof informed the court that as a result of his support for the president and the APRC, everybody knows who he is in Banjul as far as the APRC is concerned.

The seventh accused disclosed that he was appointed by the president and commander-in-chief, and the said letter, dated 24th of July 2009 was tendered and admitted in evidence and marked as exhibit 7DW2. Lie Joof explained that apart from his support to the president and commander-in-chief, he has contributed immensely to the APRC noting that he was given a certificate of Merit signed by the Mayor of Banjul, after the APRC held a successful and big political meeting at the July 22nd Square. The said certificate of Merit was tendered in evidence by defence counsel, SM Tambedou and marked as exhibit 7DW3.

Lie Joof however told the court that he has read the charge and heard the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, and that he has no time to conspire with anybody to overthrow the democratically elected government of The Gambia and the president and commander-in-chief. "I am 1000% loyal to the president and the president knows that," He added.

Lie Joof pointed out that he is always at the port and hasn't got the time to attend to any meeting pertaining to a coup plot. He told the court that he doesn't know the second accused, Omar Bun Mbye, the third accused, Lamin Bo Badjie and the fourth accused, Kawsu Camara alias Bombadier, but came to know them in Mile 2 Prisons when they were arrested in connection with the alleged Coup plot. Lie Joof also told the court that he used to see the fifth accused, ex-DIG, Modou Gaye at the police headquarters whenever he passed by the place, but had never had any contact with him. He said he last saw the sixth accused, Gibril Ngorr Secka some six years ago, despite the fact that he knows him. He finally disclosed that he used to see the eighth accused, Youseff Ezzeedine but never have any business or contact with him.

Cross-examination by the DPP
Lie Joof, responding to questions asked by the DPP, Richard Chenge, after giving his evidence-in-chief, told the court that he is just an employee, who does clearing and forwarding business, but he wasn't a business tycoon.

"I do not have time to go to functions but I have contributed generously to the APRC," he noted. When asked by the DPP how much he thinks he has donated to the APRC, Lie Joof said he doesn't know. The DPP then asked if it could be right that he has donated more than D100 million to the APRC, and Lie Joof replied in the negative, and denied he ever gave the sum of D35,000 to Lang Tombong as a contribution to his father's funeral stint, but clarified that he (Lie) only sent the sum of D2,500 to Lang Tombong on the 40th day charity of his late father, as he was unable to attend the said 40th day charity at Siffoe in the Kombo South District of Western Region.

The seventh accused told the court that it is not true that many civil servants usually come to him for assistance and he always helped them. When asked by the DPP if he has ever had a quarrel or problem with PW1, Ebrima Marreh, Lie Joof replied that he doesn't know PW1, Ebrima Marreh and could only quarrel with PW1, if he had known him.Further asked to tell the court why someone he doesn?t know should come to court to tell lies against him, Lie Joof replied that he doesn't know, because PW1, Ebrima Marreh fabricated lies.

Reminded by the DPP that PW15, evidence pointed out that he was confronted with PW1, Lie Joof said he was never confronted with PW1, Ebrima Marreh, but he came to him in the courtroom. When asked to elaborate on the telephone call printout indicating that he was vigorously calling the first accused, Lang Tombong, the seventh accused pointed out that throughout 2009, he made about three calls to the first accused and that the first accused also may have called him twice in the same 2009.

He denied he was attending meetings at Lang Tombong's residence noting that he doesn't even know where the first accused resides. When it was put to him by the DPP that he (Lie) gave the first accused (Lang) a cheque for the sum of D50 million for the purpose of the procuring arms, ammunitions and the training of mercenaries, Lie Joof told the court that it is not true and it is a great lie. Asked if he would have been more happy if the first accused, Lang Tombong become the head of state so that his business could flourish more.

Lie Joof disclosed that he cannot compare anybody to the president, Sheikh Professor, Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh, even if he has to go to his grave, which he claims is very short, he (Lie Joof) would go into his grave with President Jammeh support. For his part, Youseff Ezzedine the eight accused through guidance by his counsel Hawa Sisay Sabally, informed the court that, he has been called Rambo for about 23 years now since he arrived in The Gambia in 1987. This piece of explanation as to why he is called Rambo came on the heels of the defence counsel Hawa Sisay-Sabally's request following an earlier question the DPP posed to the 4th accused Kawasu Camara, that he was called Bombadier simply because he (Kawsu) could bombard with mortar gun.

Youseff Ezzedine further informed the court that, Lebanon is his country of origin, but his family started doing business in Africa for a long time now. "I was in the Republic of Liberia from 1978 to 1986, where my family was engaged in a textile business. I left Liberia in 1986 to The Gambia and joined my elder brother, who was doing a business here in The Gambia. I came to The Gambia because I like the country and her people. Upon my arrival in The Gambia, I was engaged in manufacturing slippers, but later went into a textile business in Banjul. I used to import textiles from Taiwan and other European countries from the year 2000 to 2002. I then left textile business and transferred to the Kairaba Avenue for furniture business.

I am still doing the furniture business in the name of "One Plus One", Youseff Ezzedine explained to the court and he went to reveal that in the course of doing the furniture business, the Government of the Gambia under president Jammeh allocated an empty plot of land to him for business on the Senegambia High way. According to him, the empty was given to him by the Government on the condition he should develop it within the time span of two years and as a result he took a loan of D7m (seven million dalasis) from the Guarantee Trust Bank and developed the plot.

"I took a loan of D7m from the GTBank to develop the empty plot and after developing the plot, I paid the bank their money. I also took a loan of D700,000 (seven hundred thousand dalasis) from the Prime Bank and invested the money into my business", the eight accused informed the court and he further revealed that, he was banking with five banks in the Gambia such as the GTBank, Access bank, Standard Chartered bank, Prime Bank and the BICSC respectively.

On his assets in The Gambia
When asked as to whether he is having any collateral security in the Gambia, he replied in the positive and explained among others things that, he is having two collaterals in The Gambia such as his business structure located on the Senegambia High way and his compound in Kerr Serign. In addition to the two mentioned collaterals, Youseff Ezzedine said, he has a Gambian wife with four children all born in the Gambia and are attending  Marina International School in Fajara.

About his contact with the Government of The Gambia
Youseff Ezzedine said among other things that, he was having an official contact with the Government of the Gambia, since his arrival in the country followed by his subsequent engagement into business. The eight accused listed his contacts with the government in order starting with his electronic business as the first point of contact with the government.According to Youseff Ezzedine, whenever he brought his container loaded with electronic items, he used to supply security officers comprised of the police, the military, fire service among others on a credit.

"All the departments within the security forces used to bring in a list of items that each officer wanted and their accountants will pay at the end of the month from their salaries. I left electronic business in the year 2000 for an office furniture business up to now. I participated in many state and army events. I do honour invitations any time they were sent to me. I received many certificates of appreciation and I received an award from president Jammeh as the friend of the GAF", Youseff Ezzedine told the court and he identified some of the certificates and the gold medal award he received from president Jammeh on the occasion of the July 22nd anniversary in the year 2008.

Further adducing his evidence before the semi crowded court with relatives, security officers and the media, the eight accused Youseff Ezzedine said, he only sees president Jammeh at state events and he used to be part of the ministers, diplomats and security chiefs to see the president off at the Banjul International Airport whenever the president is travelling and the same applies when the president is coming back from an overseas trip. According to the eight accused, his last engagement at a state event was when the Iranian president came to the Gambia a state visit. He revealed that he was at the airport to receive the Iranian president and he also attended a state banquet held in the Kairaba Beach Hotel, hosted by President Jammeh in honour of the visiting Iranian president.

About his arrest
Youseff Ezzedine, informed the court about his arrest and detention at the state Central prisons in Mile 2. According to him, the day he attended the state banquet held in the Kairaba Hotel, hosted by President Jammeh in honour of the Iranian president, the following day early in the morning, two NIA officers came to his residence in Kerr Serign and told him that, he was needed at the NIA headquarters in Banjul.

"The two NIA officers insisted that I should go with them, despite I did not have my breakfast. I went with them, we arrived at the NIA office at 8;30am. I was taken into a conference room, where I was sitting for a very long time,   I went hungry and the NIA officer who was guarding me was eating a loaf of sweet bread, I asked him to give me some and he gave me half of it", Youseff Ezzedine told the court and this piece of evidence made the defence counsel Hawa Sisay-Sabally to applied for an adjournment.

The defence counsel informed the court that, she has just finished with the preliminary evidence of her client and would continue with the case proper on the next adjourned date. The presiding judge granted the application and adjourned the case to today Monday, 14th June 2010.