Alagie Kanyi told the Kanifing Magistrate Court on Friday that Yankuba Touray and Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay have called him to discourage him not to appear before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC). Kanyi first made the revelation before the Commission about a month ago. The police brought fresh charges against the two on Friday.
A former private soldiers who has admitted participation in three executions in post July 22, 1994 coup, has on Friday testified against Yankuba Touray and Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay.
Touray and Ceesay are battling with a two-count charge sheet on conspiracy to tamper with a witness and interference with a witness of the Truth Commission.
They both deny any wrongdoing and were granted a conditional bail with a million dalasi bail bond and two Gambian surety.
The two were asked to, among other things, deposit their ID Cards and travelling documents with the court registrar.
Yankuba and Jahumpa were charged about two weeks ago but the hearing could not proceed because the police have asked for time to amend the charge sheet.
The TRRC is probing the human rights violations of the country’s former ruler Yahya Jammeh.
Tampering with a witness before the TRRC is a crime for which one can be jailed for three years or fined one million or both.
Kanyi has admitted participating in the execution of close to two dozen soldiers on November 11, 1994. He also admitted involvement in the killing former finance minister Koro Ceesay.
Both are incidents that various witnesses said Yankuba participated in.
Kanyi also said Jahumpa called him also asking him not to go to the TRRC.
At the time this happens, TRRC has already reached out to both Yankuba and Kanyi, according to Kanyi.
It is unclear what Jahumpa’s interest is in Kanyi’s testimony before the Truth Commission but Kanyi’s Friday testimony before the court suggested she may have been influenced by Touray.
The case resumes on April 2 for continuation of the hearing.
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