Schoolboy Testifies Against Coup Plotters in Court
Yankuba Jambang, Editor & Publisher, Senegambianews.com
Published 03/22/2010 - 9:05 p.m. GMT Rate This Article:

Credit - Daily Observer Ex-Military Chief, Gen Lang Tombong Tamba ( in 
striped long sleeves) implicated by a boy he sponsored in school. He's 
pictured here with co-conspirators leaving the High Court on Friday, 
March 19, 2010 Slide Show ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A schoolboy from Foni Bwiam, Ebrima Marreh, said he was part of the 
group of alleged coup plotters who attended three meetings at former 
army chief Gen Tamba's Kololi home.

Marreh, the first prosecution witness to testify against Gen Tamba and 
six others accused of plotting to overthrow president Jammeh's 
government, said the secret meetings were attended by former deputy 
inspector General of police, Modou Gaye, Lt Colonel Kawsu Camara 
(Bombardier), Brigadier General Omar Bun Mbaye, Abdoulie Joof, Yousef 
Ezziden, Ndure Cham and Kukoi Samba Sanyang.

Ndure Cham, Gen Tamba's predecessor who is wanted for leading the 2006 
abortive coup plot, and Kukoi Samba Sanyang the leader of the 1981 
failed rebellion against Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara's PPP government, are 
believed to be hiding in neighboring Senegal.

Marreh's testimony raised eyebrows because most observers believe Kukoi 
and Ndure Cham could not have been in the Gambia when they were the 
most wanted Gambians on Jammeh's list.

The witness said he was told that someone was sent to Guinea Conakry to 
procure arms and ammunition for the purpose of the coup plot. Marreh 
said Bombardier was assigned the task to monitor president Jammeh's 
movements at his ranch in Kanilai.

General Tamba was supposed to be the coup leader and was tasked with 
the provision of vehicles for the coup, the court heard.

The other two alleged accomplices, Lie Joof and Yousef Ezziden, were 
tasked with financing the coup plot, the schoolboy said. He said 
General Tamba told him that they had already sent one Rui Jabbi Gassama 
to Conakry to secure arms and ammunition for the coup.

Ebrima Marreh was under Gen Tamba's care for the past two years, and 
it's believed the embattled army chief paid for Marreh's school fees at 
the Gambia Technical Training Institute, GTTI.

Earlier, defense attorney Awa Ceesay-Sabally, submitted a lengthy 
application asking the Court to remove one of her clients, Yusef 
Ezziden, from Mile II prison and confine him to his home. Sabally said 
Ezziden suffers from heart problems and should be given privilege to be 
cared for by his relatives. The judge is expected to make a ruling on 
her application by Thursday.

The trial continues tomorrow.

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