The first witness in the murder trial of Yankuba Touray has told the court on Monday that the former state minister invoked his constitutional immunity when asked about his alleged role in the killing of Ousman Koro Ceesay, a former finance minister.
Touray faces murder charges but he denied any wrongdoing. He is alleged to have participated in the alleged murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay, an incident that reportedly occurred in his house.
Touray was a member of the redundant Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (APRC) that ruled the Gambia from 1994 to 1996 and he became the Minister of Local Government and Lands thereafter.
The case at the High Court is before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh. Touray was charged after he refused to testify before the Truth Commission on claims that he has constitutional immunity. Meanwhile, another major participant in the alleged murder of Koro, Edward Singhatey, is scheduled to appear before the Truth Commission or Wednesday or Thursday.
Meanwhile, police Inspector Alieu Jamanka said on Monday that he joined a panel of investigators at the Anti-Crime Unit with regards to Mr. Touray, during which a cautionary and voluntary statements of the accused persons were obtained.
“I read the cautionary wording to him and he said he understood it. I asked him (the accused person) the role he played in the death of Ousman Koro Ceesay his response was he was invoking in his constitutional immunity,” Jamanka told the court.
Inspector Jamanka said Touray refused to sign his voluntary statement and refused to make further comments as he invoked his constitutional immunity.
Jamanka said as the recording officer, he signed on both the cautionary and voluntary statement and both statements were admitted and marked as exhibits.
The state prosecutor then applied for the statements to be admitted and mark as exhibits in evidence which was done as exhibits A and B.
Under cross examination, Inspector Jamanka said he was enlisted in the Gambia Police Force in 2008 and he has been with the investigation department for about 6 to 7 years.
Jamanka denied violating the accused person’s right during the time he was obtaining statements, when quizzed by defence counsel Abdoulie Sisoho.
The court adjourns the case to 22nd October, 2019 for the continuation of hearing of second prosecution witness.
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