The murder trial of Arona Tine, accused of the fatal stabbing of HM Bureau de Change employee Fatoumatta Kargbo, continued before Justice Jaiteh with testimony from a police officer who first arrived at the scene.
Modou Lamin Sanneh (PW 7) took an oath to speak the truth and the whole truth. Sergeant Modou Lamin Sanneh (PW 7), attached to the Joint Operation Centre (JOC), provided a detailed account of the scene at Westfield on the day of the incident.
Sergeant Sanneh testified that on a Friday at approximately 1:00 p.m., while on standby duty at the PIU headquarters during Juma prayers, his team received a call through Superintendent Lamin B. Sarr regarding an incident at the bureau de change in Westfield.
Upon arriving at the Westfield intersection, the officer described a volatile atmosphere.
“We found almost 200 people gathered at the bureau,” Sanneh told the court. “The premises were closed, but when we opened the door, we found the accused, Arona Tine, lying inside.”
Sergeant Sanneh stated that Arona Tine, dressed in an orange shirt and blue jeans, was the only person inside the building when they arrived. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was immediately transported to Kanifing General Hospital, before being referred to Ndemban Clinic and eventually the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH).
Officer Sanneh further testified that his team remained with the accused at EFSTH at the doctor’s check-up until personnel from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrived to take over the case.
During cross-examination, the defence counsel sought to distance the witness from the actual evidence-gathering process, highlighting that Officer Sanneh’s role was strictly that of a first responder.
Defence Counsel: “Did you take part in the investigation of the matter?”
Officer Sanneh: “No, I didn’t.”
The defence further pointed out that despite the large crowd and nearby businesses, the officer did not interview any neighbouring shopkeepers or witnesses at the time. Sergeant Sanneh maintained that his primary focus was the immediate situation inside the bureau and the transport of the wounded suspect.
With no further questions from the defence counsel. The officer was discharged and the case was adjourned to 24th February 2026
