Man threatened with toy pistol- Police officer

Badinding Kinteh, an officer at the Yundum Police Station has told the court that he was on duty on December 5, last year, when Modou Manjang, the complainant, lodged a complain about himself been threatened with a toy pistol by Alhagie Kebba Gassama of Daranka, a hamlet of Lamin Village, Kombo North.

Kinteh, who appeared before Senior Magistrate EF M’Bai of the Brikama Magistrates Court as the second prosecution witness on Wednesday, recalled that the complainant later accompanied three police officers to fetch the accused person from his house and it was found out that he was not in.

According to Kinteh, they met the accused upon their return to the station, who informed them that his wife had an argument with a customer at a local shop, which prompted his intervention, which was greeted with insults from the accused. He said the accused threatened to kill Manjang with the toy pistol.

However, he said the accused has denied the allegations lodged against him by the complainant. “We then asked for the accused’s consent to conduct a search at his house which he agreed,” Mr Kinteh added.

He told the court that the search, which was conducted in the presence of the accused, led to the discovery of three life rounds of bullets, two toy pistol bullets, one toy pistol, 90 life round bullets and three AK47 magazines. He further told the court that the accused was then arrested and taken to the Yundum Police Station, where Mr Manjang identified the toy pistol that was used to threaten him.

“Mr Gassama was then cautioned and charged with threatening violence and in possession of arms and ammunition,” Mr Kinteh narrated.

During a cross-examination by the defence counsel, Lawyer A Sissoho, Kinteh disclosed that the toy pistol was found in the accused’s suitcase.

On who discovered the 90 life round bullets, Kinteh maintained that they were discovered by one Tamsir Jobe in the accused’s birthroom.

Defence counsel Sissoho then put it to Kinteh that the first prosecution witness has told the court that all the items were discovered in the accused person’s bedroom.

Subsequently, Magistrate M’Bai adjourned the case to February 20 for continuation.

Police prosecutor Sub-Inspector Saine represented the IGP.