Alieu Danso, an artist, on Wednesday, testified in the ongoing trial of the four Bundung police officers, presided over by Principal Magistrate Kumba Sillah-Camara of the Bundung Magistrates Court.
The four, Lamin Jammeh, Dawda Jallow, Sisaho Badjie and Sheikh Sowe, are been tried for the escape of 11 prisoners at the Bundung Police Station, on September 11, 2008.
Giving evidence before Principal Magistrate Kumba Sillah-Camara, yesterday, Alieu Danso informed the court that he lives in Bundungka Kunda and is an artist.
He recalled that on September 11, he was under detention with 22 other prisoners at the Bundung Police Station. He said he was lying in the cell and feeling unwell, when he heard a noise. He said he then saw one of the prisoners, Alieu, reciting some verses from the Qu’ran while raising his hands up.
He added that Alieu then went to the cell door and held the padlock whilst the accused officers were sitting on the veranda of the said police station, between 2.00am to 3.00am.
According to him, the door suddenly opened and one of the 11 escaped prisoners broke the light bulb that was in the station before the said prisoners ran away.
He added that the 11 prisoners who escaped took along their personal belongings.
According to him, he then called out to a sergeant to inform him that the prisoners were trying to escape, but there was no response. He added that he later saw the police officers running after the prisoners. He further told the court that it was one Chris, an inmate, who had helped him lock the padlock again.
According to him, he gave a statement to the police, but he could not recalled the names of the prisoners. At that juncture, the case was adjourned to October 27 for continuation. Lawyer Assan Martin represented the accused persons.
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