Ebrima, upon a perusal of this post, I can see a lot of holes in the
government's 'case'. I will study these statements some more and write a
more fitting piece. Suffice for me to say that a lot of things do NOT add
up. I will make further inquiries to establish whether Dumo and Yarbo take
ownership of these Cautionary Statements. In other words, did Dumo and Yarbo
in particular give these statements voluntarily.

In Dumo's case there are some statements that simply do NOT make sense to
me. How Dumo's alleged conversation with the Italian vermin degenerated from
discussing the Italian's business ventures (restaurant) to discussing the
purchase of arms is just mind-boggling to me?

As far as this despicable Barrow chap is concerned, one can drive a truck
through his LIES. It is full of discrepancies. One moment the Italian was
the man with the money and wanted guns, the next moment it was Dumo and Saul
Ndow that had the money and wanted guns from the Italian. This does not make
sense. Barrow is clearly lying through his teeth. The Italian clearly wanted
to get a contract from Yaya training soldiers since his restaurant was not
bringing in money. How does the Italian convince our moron to give him a
contract? Lie about some Gambians and say that they are plotting to
overthrow the government. This vermin does not care if people lose their
lives in the process.

Ebrima, like I said, I will look into this some more. At this stage one can
safely conclude that there is no case whatsoever against Lalo Jaiteh. This
is not to say that there is some semblance of a case against the other
alleged conspirators. All I am saying is that Barrow's LIES did not
encompass Lalo according to the Cautionary Statements. Real investigators
(which the thugs at the NIA are NOT) would have had a genuine line-up and
asked Barrow to identify Lalo from day one. That did NOT happen. The Italian
also has vested interest in lying about these people. This is the most
ridiculous case I have ever seen. The Star Witness (Barrow) did not even
succeed in linking all the alleged conspirators to one common criminal
enterprise; and that is critical in a case like this. Without this linkage,
the government can say bye-bye to its case. Remember the charges we spoke
about months ago. There is no evidence that Dumo knows Kanteh for instance
or these people know Yarbo. To charge citizens with a crime as serious as
treason on the basis of such flimsy evidence from pathological liars like
Barrow, Foday Barry and this Italian vermin, can only happen in the kind of
Dictatorship we have back home. Now hustlers can come to the country from
Italy, lie about innocent and defenseless Gambians and have them
incarcerated incommunicado without trial.

No wonder why the government is scared to take this 'evidence' to court.
Like Ebrima, I also caution people to be alert when they read these
statements. For starters, let us NOT assume that Dumo et al gave these
statements voluntarily. Secondly, Barrow's statements should be watched
carefully. Thirdly, we should understand the role this despicable Italian
guy was playing. Does it make sense that Saul Ndow will know the Italian's
involvement with Yaya and still allow Dumo to deal with the Italian? Does it
make sense that Lalo will know the Italian's involvement with Yaya and still
allow his family member (Kanteh) to still deal with the Italian? A lot of
things do NOT add up.
KB



>From: Ebrima Ceesay <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Statements by Dumo Saho, Lt Jaiteh, Yarbo and others!
>Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001 18:01:11 -0000
>
>Gambia-L:
>
>Find below the cautionary statements made to the Serious Crimes Unit of The
>Gambia Police Force, by Messsrs Dumo Saho, Ebrima Yarbo, Momodou Marenah,
>Ebrima Barrow and Lt Lalo Jaiteh, in connection with the LIES levelled
>against them by the State.
>
>The statements make interesting reading and also show how these men were
>set
>up and entrapped by an Italian security agent, who is one of Yahya Jammeh's
>chief security advisers. It would seem that the Italian, Francesco Caso,
>deliberately tried to incite the procurement of guns, for the purpose of
>setting the men up. He tried it also on Sheriff Dibba, Lamin Waa Juwara,
>but
>these two men were not drawn into the trap. If you remember well, one of my
>source once reported on the L, that there are/were Italian Security Agents
>who are/were working for Jammeh.
>
>Having said that, I must caution that Gambians should be very vigilant with
>some of these foreigners they are dealing with, especially when they do not
>know them.  It would seem that Yahya Jammeh will stop at nothing.  The
>Gambia is now a POLICE STATE, and we should all be on our guard.  If
>foreigners come to our country and pose as investors, we should make sure
>that they are genuine investors before dealing with them.
>
>Reading the statements of Brothers Dumo Saho, Ebrima Barrow and the rest of
>the brothers, which are reproduced below in full, I was almost in tears and
>could see clearly how they were being duped and set up by this Italian,
>Francesco Caso, a security adviser to Yahya Jammeh.
>
>Anyway, with the benefit of hindsight, one can always say these things:  at
>the time, it is always very easy to be drawn into traps like these.
>Perhaps, if the Italian had come to me, he could probably have gotten me to
>work on his behalf, or to introduce him to other Gambians. So we should
>attach no blame to Dumo Saho and the other brothers.  They were all victims
>of a vicious and purposefully arranged plot by this Italian and Jammeh's
>henchmen (and almost certainly by Yahya Jammeh himself).
>
>I urge people to check back through the archives:  my source had already
>told us about the presence of Italian security advisers at Statehouse. We
>do
>really need to be on our guard, and to heed the information being supplied
>by my sources in The Gambia.  We need to take seriously the information
>that
>is forwarded by my sources so that we can avoid similar tragedies in the
>future.
>
>I cannot end this posting without commending Annika, the wife of Dumo Saho.
>She has been working tirelessly to secure the release of her husband, and
>she should know that she has many friends both in and out of The Gambia,
>who
>will do all in their power to assist her and her husband.  We have to
>maintain the pressure on Jammeh and his regime, and we shall success in
>having Dumo Saho, Lt. Jaiteh, Ebrima Yarboe, Momodou Marenah, Ebrima Barrow
>and others released.  I also know that Amnesty International in London are
>working very hard on the case and their able West Africa team, led by
>Marcella Favretto, will leave not one stone unturned in their efforts to
>secure the release of our brothers.
>
>By the way, these statements were sent to me by one of my most trusted
>sources in The Gambia, and needless to say, I am sending them as received.
>SO READ THEM CAREFULLY!!
>
>
>Ebrima ceesay
>Birmingham, UK
>
>**********************************************************************
>
>
>>CAUTIONARY STATEMENT By Ebrima Barrow, 3/7/2000
>>
>>Address: 43 Kombo Sillah Drive, New Jeshwang Age: 49, Occupation: Salesman
>>Cautioned by: P/insp Biram S Jobe of Serious Crime Independent witness:
>>Sulayman Jammeh
>>
>
>I am Ebrima Barrow, a Gambian born in Salikene in Central Baddibou at the
>North Bank Division. I left the Gambia in 1973 and travelled to Europe. I
>finally came back home in 1997 and settled as a businessman at New Jeshwang
>in Serrekunda. One day I visited Bakau in the month May 1999, precisely the
>beginning of May. As I went into the restaurant just opposite the Bakau
>Market, I met a certain whiteman who later introduced himself to me as Mr
>Francesco Caso, an Italian national from Naples in Southern Italy. On my
>first meeting, the two of us had discussed about money issues – concerning
>The Gambia and Italy in the Italian language. Later in the month of May,
>when I visited him, he later talked about guns to me and asked if there was
>any way of getting one for him. I told him in my own capacity I could not
>get him any but we could try and see by going to Banjul. So he told me that
>the guns, if possible, could be used for changing the government of the
>Gambia.
>
>In Banjul, we went to Wellesley Street to meet one Momodou Marenah. There,
>I
>went alone to talk to Momodou Marenah and we both agreed that there were no
>guns but if the whiteman brings the money, we could dupe or trick him by
>securing his money and do away with himself. But the whiteman, after going
>with us to Hagan Street, he failed to produce any money for me. When
>Marenah
>went inside a compound, he came out and asked for the money, but the
>whiteman didn't produce any money. He said that the whiteman had to produce
>the money first because this was a very risky business and that was meant
>to
>fool the whiteman – Francesco Caso. When Francesco said that he had money,
>the two of us (myself and himself) had driven back to Bakau to his Porto
>Bello Restaurant.
>
>One day, myself and Francesco went to S. M. Dibba (Sheriff Mustapha Dibba)
>and we greeted him. But, as Francesco talked to Dibba, I could see how
>Dibba
>distrusted Francesco. So he, Dibba, called me by the side, and told me not
>to go back to him with such a visitor. In June of the same year, I went
>with
>Francesco Caso to meet Waa Juwara of Brikama, but Waa Juwara never wanted
>us
>to discuss anything about toppling the present government. So Waa Juwara
>told me to tell Francesco that we do not need a foreigner to come and
>change
>the government for us by force of arms.
>
>I then met one Dumo Saho who owned a mechanical workshop in London Corner
>in
>Serrekunda. We talked about many things. I later mentioned to Saho about a
>certain Italian national who owns a restaurant in Bakau. I mentioned to
>Saho
>all that had transpired between me and Mr Caso. So he suggested that we
>both
>meet him, Mr Caso. I told him that first of all, I had to inform Francesco
>Caso before we could go to see him. So I met Mr Caso and he accepted the
>idea of seeing Mr Saho in Mr Caso's Bakau Restaurant. So it was a cordial
>meeting. This meeting was pertaining to changing the government by the use
>of force. Mr Saho, according to him, said they had the money and the men to
>do the job but they had no arms. During the recourse, Saho said he was
>leaving the restaurant and would one day return to me. I one day went to
>Saho's workshop to see a friend of mine. He was Mr Amara (my friend).
>
>That man was not in the workshop, but Saho was there in the workshop. The
>two of us went out and stopped at the entrance of the workshop. We went out
>and stopped so he later said he would one day come to me if possible with a
>friend of his. The name of his friend was not mentioned. I, also, did not
>insist on his friend's name. One day, in July 1999, he (Saho) came to me in
>my residence and informed me that he (Saho) came with a friend but that
>friend was outside in the car. Then I had to follow him outside and we met
>his friend who was outside; and we met a certain man waiting in a green
>Benz. As we joined the gentleman's car, we drove up towards Westfield
>Junction, and there on our way to Bakau, to Francesco Caso's restaurant, I
>was introduced to Saul Ndow and we all came to know each other on that July
>day in 1999.
>
>Upon our arrival at Porto Bello Restaurant in Bakau, we met Franco. The
>formal introduction was made between him and Saul Ndow. So we sat at a
>certain table overlooking the fishing harbour of Bakau. Saho first spoke
>and
>I had to interpret to Mr Caso and then Saul Ndow spoke. I was the one
>interpreting from English to Italian and from Italian to English. Mr Saul
>Ndow, according to his assertion, it was guns that they needed (AK47 guns),
>because they had the men and the money to make the purchase. Franco
>categorically said he would not help in their request for guns. So I later
>told them to bring in the money and I could try. My intention was to get
>the
>money from Saho and Saul Ndow. I told them each AK47 would cost about five
>thousand dalasis D5000. And I never, in my life, held in my hand an AK47.
>Even, in fact, I did not know the price. Then Saul and his friend (Saho)
>left myself and Franco in the restaurant.
>
>In August 1999, I and Francesco went to meet Mr Sam SILLAH. This was in
>connection with the state of affairs of the restaurant. The Porto Bello
>restaurant was co-owned by Francesco Caso and Tony Cartoni. But according
>to
>my own understanding of things, Tony Cartoni was bringing hard times to
>Franco as partners in business. I felt that that was not fair. That was the
>reason why we went to see Mr Sam Sillah. But meeting him was in vain. But
>I,
>for one, managed to speak to Mr Sillah. After all these, then came the year
>2000. I met with Saul Ndow and he told me that he travelled to Europe and
>he
>had come back. Saul asked me about Mr Franco and I told him that he was at
>Kanilai. So he seemed to be happy with that information. He later told me
>that he had a very reliable friend who wanted to see me and we talk.
>Because
>since last year we did not see each other.
>
>He showed me clearly that that man had the money and men and is serious to
>overthrow the government of the Gambia. When we met Saul Ndow, he
>introduced
>a man whom I later know to be Alhaji Kanteh – who was the Commissioner of
>North Bank Division. Saul Ndow and Alhaji Kanteh told me that they wanted
>to
>see Francesco Caso. When Franco gave me a call on 392616 which I gave him
>before, I then informed him that Saul Ndow wanted to see him. Franco came
>in
>May 2000 and picked me from my residence (New Jeshwang) and I went with him
>to Saul Ndow's house in Pipe Line.
>
>On arrival we were behind closed doors. There Alhaji Kanteh and Saul Ndow
>stated that they needed AK47 guns for overthrowing the government of the
>Gambia. Then I told Saul Ndow and Alhaji Kanteh just to bring the money to
>me.
>
>Franco never seemed to trust Alhaji Kanteh, but I did not know why? Saul
>Ndow said he was going to travel to Ghana and that the money was to be left
>here with Alhaji Kanteh. I strongly believe that Alhajie Kanteh was going
>to
>give me the money. But up to this time, I did not receive the money from
>Alhaji Kanteh. I definitely know I shall not keep the money in my pocket
>and
>use the money for something else. Last week, on the 4th of June 2000, we
>met
>Alhaji Kanteh in his residence with four others, plus him making it five.
>So, I went with Francesco Caso.
>
>The men were introduced to me and Francesco. But during the whole process
>Alhaji Kanteh withheld the identities – that was their names. After the
>meeting, each one was given a letter code by Alhaji Kanteh ranging from
>A-D.
>So, they left, leaving behind them one SANNO who was talking with Alhaji
>Kanteh. If I see them, I will be able to identify them. Alhaji told me that
>they were all EX-ARMY officers. Alhaji told me, in the presence of Franco,
>that he would give me the money. I could also remember on Sunday 18th June
>2000, Saul Ndow called me by phone and said he was in Guinea Conakry and
>asked me how things were going on and that he promised to come back in two
>weeks time.
>
>On the 14th June 2000, I went to Kerr Pateh, and on my way back, I stopped
>at Kerewan to see Alhaji Kanteh. On my arrival, I asked Alhaji Kanteh about
>the money, but he told me that he shall give it to me when he, Alhaji,
>comes
>over to Serrekunda on Thursday, the 22nd June 2000. That was the day I was
>arrested. I came to know Ebrima YARBO before 1999. Myself and Francesco
>Caso
>went to YARBO's office at Gamtel House for Radio Frequency. And he
>explained
>how to apply through the normal procedure. Then we went another day for a
>gas-gun which was for personal protection of Franco. But after the deal the
>gas-gun, according to Franco, was being returned to Mr YARBO, because
>Franco
>said it was not functioning.
>
>___________________________________________________________________
>
>>4/7/2000 Witnessed by: Sulayman Jammeh CAUTIONARY STATEMENT By Momadou
>>Ousman Sarho, 4/7/2000
>>
>>Address: No 5 Sanchaba Road, Serekunda Age: 44 yrs; Occupation:
>>Development
>>agent Cautioned by: Insp Biram Jobe of Serious Crime Witnessed by:
>>Sulayman
>>Jammeh
>>
>
>I am Mr Momodou Sarho, a Gambian by birth and residing at Serekunda. I am
>presently engaged in development work and running a Skills Training Centre
>in Tabokoto and Bundunkakunda. I have travelled out of the country and
>lived
>in Sweden from 1985 until when I returned to The Gambia finally in 1995. On
>the 24th day of June 2000, by 15.00 hrs, I was apprehended from my street
>by
>three security agents. I was taken to the NIA bureau in Banjul and detained
>until the 27th day of June 2000 on a Wednesday for interrogation.
>
>I can recall my contacts with Mr Ebrima Barrow, a man I knew as Basiris,
>sometime in March 1999, at Serekunda at the Boka Loho Workshop in Lonbdon
>Corner. We talked about the situation of Africa and The Gambia and believed
>that some changes need to take place politically. During our conversation
>he
>– Mr Ebrima Barrow – made mention of a certain Italian man who is running a
>restaurant in Bakau, who was in serious trouble and needed help to recover
>in business. The restaurant is called Porto Bello in Bakau and situated
>opposite the market.
>
>We agreed to go to see this Italian man when there is time to discuss with
>him. We had time in June 1999 to meet this man at his restaurant in Bakau.
>When we got there I was introduced by Basiri to the Italian man and we had
>a
>long conversation about his business and his interest to invest in The
>Gambia but here and there, he said he was encountering some problems with
>some enforcing agents in the country. I was interpreted by Mr Ebrima
>Barrow.
>The Italian is a soldier of the European Union from Italy and has been
>doing
>emergency work in Turkey during the earthquake. His frustrations led to
>some
>political statements which also occasioned the Italian man to observe the
>stagnant political situation in the country and the need to have the system
>changed in order to improve the lives of our people.
>
>After this discussion with the Italian, we left for Serekunda, myself and
>Basori. I told him that the condition of the man is in a very sorrowful
>situation and if he is really here to invest they he needs to be assisted.
>I
>later introduced a friend of mine, Mr Saul Ndow, to Ebrima Barrow (Basori).
>And we went to Basori's house with Saul, in Saul's car, a green Mercedes
>Benz. When we reached Barrow's house, Saul waited for me outside and I went
>in to see if Basori was there. I was fortunate to find him there and I told
>him that I was with a friend and we could go to see his friend, the
>Italian.
>I returned with him to the car and we drove to Porto Bello, the Italian
>Restaurant in Bakau.
>
>On arrival, I introduced Saul to the man and we took our places and started
>discussions. We discussed mainly about the man's plight and he showed us
>his
>place where business was not taking place. Everything was bad. He mentioned
>the goods he could have brought in this country if he hadn't had any bad
>experiences. From this time, the Italian man talked about his military
>experiences and his ability to train men in military skills. He said that
>although he could train, but he cannot provide weapons. Saul told him that
>weapons are very difficult to secure but he can also look around.
>
>We left this place again, myself, Saul and Basori. After we left we said we
>could see what could be done about the man's business and again we talked
>further about the results of today's discussions. Throughout the
>discussions, interpretations were being done by Basori from Italian to
>English and from English to Italian.
>
>Since from this date, I was never in contact with these men again. I am
>also
>informed at the NIA that the name of the Italian is FRANCESCO
>CASO. All these things took place in 1999. This statement was recorded by
>myself and read out to Mr Sulayman Jammeh of Talinding Madina, unemployed.
>
>_______________________________________________________________________
>
>>3/7/2000 CAUTIONARY STATEMENT By Momodou Marenah, 3/7/2000
>>
>>Address: 14 Welsely Str. Age 2nd March 1951; Occupation: businessman
>>Cautioned by D/insp Biram Jobe of Serious Crime Banjul Witnessed by:
>>Sulayman Jammeh
>>
>
>I, Momodou Marenah, a Gambian born in Salikene Central Baddibou and
>presently residing at 14 WELSELY STR, BANJUL. I know one Ebrahima Barrow
>who is a friend and we are all from the same village, Salikene.
>One day in the year 1999, I was visited by Ebrahima together with one white
>man, whom I later know to be called FRANCISCO CASO. Ebrahima told me the
>man
>needed a gun (AK 47). I told Ebrahima Barrow if he knew what he was asking
>for. He told me he only needed my help to assure the white man that it
>could
>be obtained so that he, Ebrahima, could get the money from the white man.
>
>We then came out of the room together to meet the white man sitting in the
>car parked outside the gate of the compound. After introduction by Barrow,
>I
>told the white man that we must drive to 75 Hagan Str to meet a friend
>called Momodou Sanneh. It's not that Momodou Sanneh had any AK 47 but to
>help my friend, Barrow, to get the money from Francisco Caso.
>Unfortunately, Momodou Sanneh was not in and I told them to try him another
>day. Mr Francisco Caso came back again a day after our first meeting and we
>drove together to meet Momodou Sanneh at 75 Hagan Street. He parked the car
>not far from the gate of 75 Hegan Street. I went out of the car to call
>Momodou Sanneh whom I had already briefed. After greetings he demanded if
>he, Momodou Sanneh, could get him AK 47. Then Momodu Sanneh asked if he had
>the money with him. Mr Caso said he must first see the gun before he could
>produce the money.
>
>Momodou Sanneh told him he could not do anything when there was no money.
>He
>then promised to come back with the money the next day after. Again, he
>said
>he must first see the gun. We told him that was not possible. After some
>argument, he finally told Momodou Sanneh and myself that he would be coming
>the next to bring the money. But he never turned up again, and I did not
>see
>him again until the day he led some army officers and I was arrested at my
>residence at early hours of Friday 22nd June 2000. I was violently dragged
>out of my room. I cannot say what was taken from the room as I was not
>present. Statement made by me and read out to Sulayman Jammeh of Talinding
>Madina.
>
>______________________________________________________________________
>
>>3/7/2000 CAUTIONARY STATEMENT By Ebrima M Yarbo,
>>
>>Address: 26B Fitzgerald St, Banjul Age: 42; Occupation Senior Manager
>>(Gamtel) Cautioned by D/C 1192 Drammeh of Fraud Squad Witnessed by:
>>Sulayman Jammeh, Talinding (Medina)
>>
>
>I attended Salikene Primary School from 1969-1972, and proceeded to
>ARMITAGE High School where I completed in 1977. I went to Banjul to look
>for employment, and during this period, I always used to camp with Salikene
>people whom I knew during my primary school time. The place we used to camp
>was at a tailor's workshop at the junction of Primet Street and Allen
>Street. During our normal gatherings, the subject of discussions used to be
>about personalities, some of whom were abroad and who I did not have the
>opportunity to meet during my primary school days. One such personality was
>EBRIMA BARROW (commonly called Bassud Barrow). I was interested in knowing
>some of them and luckily stumbled on him and we made aquaintance.
>
>Since then, Mr Barrow would casually visit me both at the office (Gamtel
>House) where I work as Senior Manager Transmission Systems and also
>sometimes handling radio frequency allocations. Mr Barrow would sometimes
>come with video cassettes, list of compounds for sale and domestic items
>like radios and tape recorders.
>
>In a similar visit, sometime in september 1999, Mr Barrow came to my office
>with one Italian man by the name Francisco Caso whom he introduced to me as
>a restaurant owner. He later enquired about how to get allocated with
>frequency for communications purposes. The frequency spectrum, I explained,
>is a national resource which belongs to the nation. Gamtel is the custodian
>and this position is conferred on Gamtel by the Department of State for
>Works and Communications and Information. Anybody wanting to be allocated
>with frequency has to apply for it to the D.S.W.C&I or through it to
>Gamtel's Managing Director. Anybody in doubt about allocation can make
>enquiries to Gamtel just as enquiries are done on the procedure to apply
>for
>a telephone or any other service that Gamtel sells. The Italian would
>always
>speak in Italian and the interpretation would be done by E Barrow in
>English.
>
>On the next visit, Barrow mentioned to me that Mr Caso needed a pistol for
>his personal protection. I told him that I don't deal in firearms but that
>I
>know of a street peddlar by the name of Lamin Sanyang who had a gas pistol,
>and promised them that whenever I see this Lamin Sanyang, I would take the
>gas pistol from him and show them. Luckily, one day I stumbled on Lamin
>Sanyang and took the gas pistol from him and took it to FRANCISCO CASO at
>his restaurant in Bakau. I charged him D1800 and he gave me a cheque. I
>also
>had the opportunity to see his certificate in radio communication which
>happened to be in Italian.
>
>On my return, I took the cheque to the bank, but it was not honoured. So I
>returned the cheque to him and he gave me back tha pistol (gas) saying that
>it was not in fact a good one. I returned the gas pistol to the owner and
>also fell out with Ebrima Barrow. All these incidents took place in 1999. I
>started speaking to E. Barrow on 22/6/2000 when we were put in the same
>confinement room at the N.I.A. headquarters – Banjul.
>THE STATEMENT WAS MADE BY ME AND READ OUT TO SULAYMAN JAMMEH OF TALINDING
>(MEDINA)
>___________________________________________________________________
>
>>CAUTIONARY STATEMENT By Lt. Lalo Jaiteh, 11/7/2000
>>
>>Address: Mile Seven, Bakau Age: 26; Occupation: Military officer Cautioned
>>by D/insp Biram S Jobe of Serious Crime Squad Witnessed by: Sunkary
>>Saidykhan, Tabokoto
>>
>
>I, Lt Lalo K Jaiteh, a Gambian national, was born at Njaba Kunda village. I
>am personally residing at Mile 7, Bakau. I joined the Gambia National Army
>in 1995 through a basic recruit training which ended in December 1995.
>After
>the passing out, I remained at the Gambia National Army training school as
>an instructor for few months. I was then at Army Headquarters as a finance
>clerk under the finance and records. I then proceeded to Ghana Military
>training and Academy in August 1996 for my Young Officers Basic Training
>(YOS). This course entails basic officers as well as Jungle warfare
>training. It ended in December 1996. I came in December 1996. I was sent to
>the training school as an Admin officer. Then to Yundum barracks as a
>platoon Commander and Fajara barracks as platoon Commander. In 1997, I was
>transferred to Infantry Battalion as an adjutant for almost two years and
>as
>a company Commander in the same battalion. I was there when I proceeded to
>Pakistan Military School of Engineering for Disposal Course which lasted
>for
>six weeks.
>
>I returned during the same 1998 to Infantry battalion. I was then
>transferred to Fajara barracks the same month. On arrival at Fajara
>barracks
>I was nominated for a local course conducted by the State Guards. This
>course lasted for three months. After this course, I was transferred to
>State Guards, this was in July. At the State Guards I served as the Admin
>Officer up to 1999. I was then appointed as ADC to His Excellency up to up
>to 18th June 2000 when I was called by the Commander State Guards Captain
>Ousman Sonko to report to his office.
>
>Captain Sonko said it was an instruction from the president. I reported on
>a
>Sunday. Then on Tuesday 20th June 2000 a message came from GDF
>HQ that I should report to HQ. This message was read to me in a formal
>meeting with Ousman Sonko in the presence of Lt. Omar M Darboe, Solomon
>Jammeh, RSM Sanyang and later by Lt Ousman Badjie. I met the chief of staff
>Col Babucarr Jatta on Thursday 22nd June 2000. The chief of staff told me
>to
>work under the Gi branch sharing office with Captain Mbye. On the 23rd June
>2000, while in my house with my family, I was arrested by soldiers of the
>state guards on duties. Among them, I could recognise Sgt Babucarr Bojang,
>Pte Alieu bojang, Cpl Famara Camara (Sikou) , Pte Lamin . I was taken to
>the
>National Investigation HQ (NIA) for interrogation.
>
>On the 26th day of June 2000, during the interrogation, I was informed by
>the investigators Mr Baba Saho and Sukuta Jammeh, that I am a conspirator
>with a colleague to divert (as my role) the convoy in order to eliminate
>His
>Excellency the president. I categorically denied being a conspirator with
>Commissioner Alagie Kanteh to divert the convoy in order to assasinate HE
>the President. I was also asked whether I attended any meeting with
>Commissioner Kanteh and colleagues for a such an issue. I categorically
>denied having a meeting with the mentioned persons in such a matter. I was
>also asked to elaborate on my duties as an ADC.
>
>As an ADC, when I was appointed, it was explained to me by the former
>commander of State guards Ex-Lt Landing Sanneh that I am not part of the
>security set of the state guards. I was directly under the president and
>answerable to the president. I was an aid (special helper) to the
>president.
>As an ADC, I am only there to receive instruction from the president. I
>have
>no men under my command. In short, I am only there to carry the president's
>bag, files, hankerchief, spectacles and any
>other instructions deemed necessary by the president. I don't attend any
>security meeting; I don't attend any parade or briefing.
>
>I was told by the then commander that even if he needed me while I was in
>office, I should take permission from the president. I denied the
>accusation
>that I was to divert the convoy. Because as an ADC, I have no role in the
>convoy; no command whatsoever over the convoy. The convoy has a commander
>who is in charge of everything, whether the convoy is at a halt or on the
>move. I have no command to direct the convoy or to give instructions in the
>convoy. As I mentioned, the convoy has a commander (convoy commander).
>
>He is in charge of everything in the convoy - speed limits, direction, the
>number of men etc. Also, there is the PPO (Principal Protecting Officer)
>who
>is in charge of the security of the president and also commands the plain
>clothes personnels of the convoy. These are the two main commanders of the
>convoy who have the right to command men in the convoy. I, as an ADC,
>cannot
>command any soldier in the state guards neither in the convoy. If I give
>command nobody will act because everybody knows his role. I don't have the
>right to command a soldier
>without the permission of his commander.
>
>As an ADC I don't enter in any security vehicle. I am always in the
>reserved
>vehicle where I should vacate in case there is emergency. I am in the
>reserve vehicle unless and until I am instructed by the president to join
>his vehicle. In such a case, I don't share his car with him alone.
>Sometimes
>with the PPO or any other plain clothes personnel. Even in his vehicle, I
>don't command the convoy, nor do I give command. Also among my roles I
>always make sure that the president's office is properly arranged or in
>good
>working condition for appointments.
>
>I also make sure that the office is locked and that the arranging,
>cleaning,
>locking as well as securing is not done by myself. It is always done by
>those responsible. As for the security of the office, it is the duty of the
>PPO and his team at the office and his men. Anytime I go to HE the
>president
>office when there is appointment, I always go with the PPO (Principal
>Protecting Officer)
>
>On the 26th day of June, I was also asked whether I know one Francisco Caso
>before. I made it clearly to the investigators that I met Francisco Caso at
>the office over two and a half month ago. He came to the office with Mr
>Abdoulie Kujabi (Deputy Director General of NIA), Capt Ousman Sonko
>(Commander State Guards). Abdoulie Kujabi told me that himself and
>Francisco
>Caso are to meet the president. After confirmation, they went in the
>office.
>
>It was after the meeting that I asked Captain Ousman Sonko who the man is.
>Captain Sonko told me that he is an Italian who is going to conduct a
>training for State Guards men. Lt Musa Jammeh and Bakary Camara were
>present. The second time was in Kanilai. Also, he, Francisco, came with
>Abdoulie Kujabi to the president. They went into the house. Francisco came
>out to smoke under the verandah and I told him not to smoke because the
>president does not like it. That was the first time I talked to him.
>
>The third time was also in Kanilai when I was called by Lt Musa Jammeh to
>introduce me to Francisco. He introduced him to me, Lt. Son Njie,  Ousman,
>Bakary Camara. Also Ebrima Kinteh of the NIA including us, was there. Then
>Lt Musa Jammeh, after the introduction, said Francisco will be joining us
>in
>the convoy from today and that he will also be conducting training for the
>State Guards. He, Francisco, started telling Lt Jammeh and Njie how he
>wants
>his convoy to be moving (formation) He was then told to join the convoy
>commander.
>
>From that day, he used to join us in the convoy. Later, he conducted one
>month long course/training with the soldiers in the bush. The course was on
>VIP protection and anti-terrorism. On the same day, I was also asked
>whether
>I know one Mr Ebrima Barrow of Baddibou Salikene, North Bank Division
>presently living in New Jeshwang and I answered in the negative. I don't
>know any Ebrima Barrow and that was the first time of hearing his name. I
>also asked for him for identification the following day, the 27th of June.
>Mr Ebrima Barrow was brought to me for identification. Mr Barrow could not
>identify me when he was told that I am Lt Lalo Jaiteh.
>
>
>_________________________________________________________________________
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