Ensa Mendy, a young man who identified himself as an orderly to former state minister Yankuba Touray, has told the High Court that he saw burn marks on Touray’s shirt on the day of the death of former finance minister Ousman Koro Ceesay.
Mendy said he was an orderly to former minister Touray from 1994 to 2001. Touray is currently being tried for the allege murder of Koro Ceesay.
Touray was arrested and charged following his appearance before the Truth Commission where he refused to testify on claims that he has constitutional immunity. Koro was allegedly killed in Touray’s house, according to Alagie Kanyi, a witness who testified before the Truth Commission.
Touray denied any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, his orderly Mendy said on the night of Koro’s allege murder, he was sent on a patrol around the BB Hotel.
He went with the guard commander at Touray’s residence, Corporal Jangom, Lamin Bojang and others he could not identify.
“Was it part of your duty as a bodyguard to be also deployed on patrol at the beach site,” asked the state prosecutor.
“No,” responded Mendy.
“Apart from that particular day, were you ever asked to go on patrol by the accused person during the period you served as a bodyguard/orderly,” asked state prosecutor.
“No,” replied Mendy.
Mendy was an orderly to Touray for 7 years, according to him. He said after he returned from the patrol between 1 to 2 a.m, he saw Yankuba Touray going to his bedroom from the sitting room. He noticed that the house was wet.
“His bed room and our bed room are opposite each other… So I stood at my door and I saw that the house was so wet with water. Then I proceeded to the sitting room, all is moody with water,” said Mendy.
“At the entrance of the sitting room, I saw his uniform placed on the ground and I observed it and I saw burnt around the side pocket. Then I said something must have happened here.”
Mendy said he only got to know about the death of Koro Ceesay when he got to work the following day.
However, the lawyer for Yankuba Touray, Abdoulie Sisoho, has challenged Mendy that he was “never appointed bodyguard to the accused person”.
“I was appointed as his bodyguard… I played two roles: his bodyguard and an orderly. I was given an arm to protect him and the same time I was his orderly,” replied Mendy.
The case is adjourned to November 4 when Sisoho’s cross examination is intended to continue. The State intends to bring 7 witnesses during the course of the trial.
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