Foroyaa journalist testifies in false information trial

Musa Barrow, a freelance reporter with the Forayaa newspaper, on monday testified as a prosecution witness in the ongoing trial involving Mariama Touray, Ebrima Touray and Abdou Fatty, who are accused of giving false information to public servants.  

The trial is taking place at the Bundung Magistrates Court. Testifying before Magistrate Foster, Musa Barrow informed the court that on 21 July 2008, he received the trio at the Forayaa newspaper in Churchill’s town. He told the court that he spoke to one of the visitors who told him about the arrest of two of their relatives by police personnel.According to Barrow, the trio told him that they came to seek advice from his office.
He added that they also informed him about a problem they had had with one of their neighbours, Aunt Fullo.

According to him, he was told that the two relatives were arrested while sitting near Aunt Fullo’s house smoking,and it was widely believed in the neighbourhood that Aunt Fullo had given ‘something’ to the police, which was why they had arrested the two. Musa Barrow told the court that he was never told what that ‘something’ was. He added that he then investigated the issue with one Baboucarr Saidykhan, whom he described a colleague.

According to him, they first approached Aunt Fullo and told her that they had received information suggesting that she might have given something to the police but she replied that she had not. The witness told the court that they then proceeded to the Tallinding Police Station, where they met one officer, Ndure.

He said they also asked Ndure if the police had received something from Aunt Fullo that resulted to the arrest but the police officer vehemently refuted the allegation. He added that he was then asked to write a statement, which he did with the assistance of Saidykhan as he (Barrow) has problems with his eyesight.

At that juncture, the police prosecutor, Corporal Sarr showed him the statement for identification.  But the journalist informed the court that he has an eye problem and as a result could not identify the  statement.  The trio were represented by Assan Martin. The case was adjourned to Monday May 4.