Sheriff
Kumba Jobe, the defence counsel representing Babucarr Njie, a soldier who was
found with a gun at the King Fahd Mosque, on 27 April 2017 urged the court
before Magistrate Isatou Janneh-Njie of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court to
discharge the accused.
When
the case was called, defence counsel Jobe rose and told the court he was
representing the accused.
But
the prosecutor was not present in court.
The
defence counsel then said he observed the absence of the prosecutor, adding
that the office of the IGP is next to the court and they did not give any
reason for not going to court.
He
argued that the constitution guarantees the accused the right to be given a
speedy trial, adding that the absence of the prosecution denied this right to
the accused.
Counsel
Jobe further posited that the IGP has no interest in the case and he applied to
the court to dismiss the suit pursuant to section 163 of the criminal code.
He
adduced that the IGP has abandoned the prosecution of the case, saying “the
court is not a Father Christmas to be held to ransom by the prosecution for the
IGP to dictate to the court” the conduct of the case.
He
urged the court to grant his application to dismiss the case, saying he wished
the case was a civil matter, then he would have asked for a heavy cost from the
IGP.
Counsel
Jobe further argued that the accused had never been absent since the matter
started, and he is serving the Gambia Armed Forces.
Magistrate
Janneh-Njie, in her ruling, told the court the prosecutor was absent although a
hearing notice was served on the prosecution.
She
said no reason was advanced for the absence of the prosecutor.
She
then asked the defence counsel to reply on points of law to the written address
of the prosecutor in his absence.
Counsel
Jobe then said he had received the written address of the prosecutor.
He
said fortunately, on their part, there was no legal controversy to warrant them
to reply to the prosecutor’s written address, adding that they did not wish to
reply on points of law.
He
urged the court to disregard the submission made by the prosecution and to
accept the submission of the defence, that the cautionary and voluntary
statements were not obtained voluntarily.
Magistrate
Janneh-Njie is expected to rule on the voire dire (trial within trial) on 3 May
2017.
