By Landing Ceesay
Army Captain Mamat Jobe was cross-examined by the Counsel for the 1st and 5th accused persons Lawyer LS Camara in the alleged attempted Coup trial.
Captain Jobe of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) during the last adjourned date explained to the Court how he exposed the coup plot allegedly masterminded by Sanna Fadera.
Sanna Fadera (the 1st accused) and 3 other soldiers of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) and a Police Officer from the Gambia Police Force (GPF) are accused of attempting to overthrow the government of President Adama Barrow and charged with 5 counts, including treason.
The defendants standing trial are Lance Corporal Sanna Fadera (1st accused) Private Officer, Gibril Darboe (2nd accused) Corporal Ebrima Sannoh (3rd accused), and Corporal Omar Njie (4th accused), Fabakary Jawara (5th accused) who is the lone Police Officer charged alongside the Soldiers.
Appearing as the Third Prosecution Witness (PW3) before Justice Basiru B.V.P Mahoney of the High Court of the Gambia, Captain Jobe told the Court that he enlisted in the Gambia Army in 2008.
Under cross-examination, Captain Jobe told the Court that the operational plan that was shown to him by Sanna Fadera (1st accused) did not have a signature.
“Do you remember anything written on that operational plan or operational order,” Counsel Camara asked.
“I can’t remember,” Captain Jobe responded.
“Do you remember if that operational plan has the names of persons,” Counsel Camara asked.
“No, I cannot remember,” Captain Jobe answered.
“Do you remember if that operational plan has a date or signature,” Counsel Camara asked.
“No, I cannot remember,” Captain Jobe told the Court.
Captain Jobe further told the court that it is a captain who can move a battalion.
Captain Jobe said only a Lieutenant and Major can move platoon.
Captain Jobe said a section can be moved by a Sergeant and Lieutenant
“It is correct that the first accused person cannot move a battalion,” Counsel Camara asked.
“I cannot answer that, but in some situations, a junior officer can move a battalion,” Captain Jobe responded.
“That is in an abnormal situation, right,” Counsel LS Camara asked. “Yes,” the witness responded.
“Who draws operational order is it not a captain, Major, and senior officers.” Counsel Camara asked.
“Yes, that may be correct or not correct,” Captain Jobe responded.
“It is correct that it is the commander that issues the order,” Counsel Camara asked again. Captain Jobe responded in the affirmative.
“An operational plan is the details of the preparedness of a plan,” Counsel Camara asked. “Yes,” Captain Jobe responded.
“You told this court that, and I quote ‘As I go through the operational plan, I saw that battalions were tasked, and I said this is bigger than me,’ Do you have that in your statement?” Counsel Camara asked.
“I cannot remember, but all that I said here is true. Because I took an oath. So, It should be there and if it is not there then that must be an oversight from me,” Captain Jobe responded.
“I am putting it to you that is not in your statement,” Counsel LS Camara told the witness.
“When I was writing that statement, I tried to remember as much as I can remember. When I was given my testimony, I tried to recall everything that transpired. However, immediately after I was done, I also remembered that there were facts I also left out. It was not deliberate,” Captain Jobe stated.
“You remember saying to Sanna that ‘how did you feel going against the verdict of the people.’ Did you put that in your statement,” LS Camara asked? “Yes sir,” the witness responded.
Counsel LS Camara asked Captain Jobe whether he read the entirety of the Operational Plan.
“Frankly, I could not read everything, I just made a glance and that was it. I was not afraid, but I was not comfortable with it. I was even in haste for him (Sanna Fadera) to leave my house,” Captain Jobe told the Court.
“Can you tell the court how many times you were asked to record the first accused person (Sanna Fadera).?” LS Camara asked.
“I can’t remember the number of times, but I remember Major Alhagie Njie and Landing Tamba telling me to get Sanna on record,” Captain Jobe stated.
The case is adjourned to the 2nd of March 2023 at 1 pm.