Weighing certificates and analytical results for drugs purportedly taken from Paulo Djabi (the first accused) by the Drug Law Enforcement Agency of The Gambia (DLEAG) have been filed by the State Prosecution.
Paulo Djabi, the first accused, Nadine Ismael De Gouveira Pereira, the second accused, and Mamadu Neto Djabi, the third accused, are all facing 20 charges of drug-related offenses and money laundering in a High Court trial in The Gambia.
Lamin Y.A. Sanneh, a DLEAG officer, testified as the First Prosecution Witness (PW1), telling the court that investigators confiscated 12 cars, 3 motorcycles, a Jet Ski, as well as drugs, needles, and strings that were purportedly owned by Paulo Djabi.
According to Mr. Sanneh’s testimony, amphetamine and NDMA were among the substances that were confiscated. He attested to the medications’ weighing, laboratory analysis, and subsequent provision of analytical findings.
“You informed this court in your evidence in chief that the drugs purportedly taken from the first accused’s apartment and the second accused’s residence were weighed and examined?” Lamin Jarju, Senior State Counsel, inquired.
The witness gave an affirmative response.Would you be able to recognize the analytical reports and the weighting certificates if you saw them? Counsel Jarju inquired.
The witness gave another yes response.
Counsel Jarju said, “How would you be able to distinguish between the analytical reports and the weighing certificate?”Two identical analytical reports are supplied, along with the contents’ weighing certifications. I signed the weighing certificates and my name appears on them as the witness. The witness informed the court that the scientific officer who carried out the analysis had stamped and signed the analytical reports.
After being shown the documents for confirmation, the witness attested to the court that they were identical.
Mr. Sanneh recognized the analytical report and weighing certificate that were given to him as being connected to the substance NDMA, which was purportedly discovered in the possession of the first accused, Paulo Djabi.
Counsel Jarju then requested that the analytical report and weighing certificate be designated as prosecution exhibits in order to present them as evidence.
The accused’s attorney, Senior Counsel Sheriff M. Tambadou, had reservations about the duplication of some documents but did not contest the admission of the others.
“I have nothing against the weighing certificate. However, there is no difference between the two analytical findings, Counsel Tambadou informed the court.One of the copies of the analytical reports was removed by State Counsel Lamin Jarju. The sitting judge, Honorable Justice Ebrima Jaiteh, designated the documents as prosecution exhibits P7 and P8 after admitting them as evidence.
After that, Counsel Jarju gave the witness another weighing certificate and an analytical report for identification, which the witness attested to.
The accused’s attorney, Senior Counsel Sheriff M. Tambadou, voiced worry about several documents’ duplication but did not dispute the documents’ admissibility.
The witness informed the court, “Is the NDMA weighing certificate found in the home of Mamadu Neto Jabbi, the third accused person, and attached with the analytical report?”The witness recognized the analytical report and the weighing certificate that Counsel Jarju offered for admission.
Counsel S.M. Tambadou did not object to the admissibility of the materials as evidence.
The documents were designated as prosecution exhibits P9 and P10, respectively, after Hon. Justice Jaiteh admitted them into evidence.
After that, the witness was given more identification paperwork, which he filled out as asked.
The witness informed the court, “This is the NDMA weighing certificate that was discovered in Paulo Djabi and Nadine Pereira’s home, and the analytical report is attached to it.”The witness-identified analytical report and the weighing certificate were submitted by Counsel Jarju for inclusion in the evidence.
The admissibility of these materials was not contested by counsel S.M. Tambadou.
The documents were later admitted into evidence by Hon. Justice Jaiteh, who designated them as Prosecution Exhibits P11 and P12.
The case was then postponed to November 5, 2024 by Hon. Justice Jaiteh.
