Photo credit: Kexx Sanneh
A labourer employed at the United Vegetable Oil Company testified in court this week as the first prosecution witness in the armed robbery trial of three men accused of violently robbing the factory on New Year’s Eve.
The witness, Sadivi Hauya, who resides near Denton Bridge, recounted being assaulted, restrained, and gagged by three intruders in what prosecutors allege was a coordinated robbery that netted 400,000 dalasis.
On trial are Ansumana Jarju, Abdoulie Jallow, and Losseni Diabate, who face charges of conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery with violence, and disabling a person to commit a felony or misdemeanor. The charges stem from the events of December 31, 2024, at the oil processing facility located at Saro Denton Bridge, just outside Banjul.
Led in his testimony by state prosecutor M. Mballow, Mr. Hauya told the court that the attack occurred at his residence, situated on the company premises. He said he was with a colleague who had briefly left to find food when three men entered his home.
“They strangled me, tied my hands, and pushed me down to sit,” Mr. Hauya said, describing the moment the alleged assailants stormed in. He testified that while one of the attackers kept him under guard, the others searched for money. One of them, he said, later returned with cash, gagged him, and fled with the others.
The attackers, he added, were armed with cutlasses.
Despite his hands being bound and mouth gagged, Mr. Hauya said his legs had not been tied, allowing him to inch his way to find help. “I struggled to walk until my colleagues found and untied me,” he testified. He said he then retrieved his phone and contacted his brother, who arrived at the scene with three soldiers. They found the door broken, he said.
Under cross-examination, Mr. Hauya told the court that two of the intruders wore masks, and although the third did not, he was unable to identify him due to fear.
Representing the accused are attorneys Lamin J. Darboe, E. Sanneh, and Alieu Jallow. The trial continues.
“Asked whether he recognized the face of the one who didn’t wear a mask, he responded that he didn’t look at his attackers because he was terrified,”
He concluded his testimony by stating that when his brother arrived with the soldiers, they inspected the residence and found the door had been broken, indicating forced entry.
During cross-examination by defense counsel E. Sanneh, who represents the third accused, Ansumana Jarju.
“The incident that led you to come before his court indeed made you terrified?” Lawyer Sanneh inquired.
“Yes,” Mr. Hawui confirmed.
“Are you indeed terrified for your life?” the defence counsel pressed.
“Yes,” Mr. Hawui reiterated.
Defense counsel Sanneh pressed the witness on his failure to identify the unmasked assailant, stating, “Since you’re terrified by your life, you should be able to identify the person who attacked you.”
Mr. Hawui responded, “Yes, I wanted to recognize him, but I was so terrified that I couldn’t.”
Concluding his cross-examination, Defense Counsel E. Sanneh told the court, “My lord, that has done good for us, and I have no further questions.”
The case was adjourned to tomorrow for cross-examination by Lamin J. Darboe for the first accused, Abdoulie Jallow.