In UDP militant’s trial, Court issues subpoena for prosecution witness

Magistrate Ibrahim Kijera of the Bundung Magistrates’ Court Tuesday issued a subpoena for a prosecution witness, who came to the court and left without the notice of the prosecution.

This followed an application made by the prosecuting officer, Corporal 3533 Jarju, in the trial involving Alasanna Jobarteh, a UDP militant, who is facing a charge of broadcasting without a licence contrary to the Information and Communication Act.

When the case was called, the prosecuting officer applied for him to give evidence in camera for the security of the witness, who is an intelligence officer.

He said the witness may be spotted wherever he goes, and there is need to hide the identity of the witness.

The accused person, when asked whether he had any objection to the application made by the prosecuting officer, told the court that he wanted to wait for his lawyer.

The trial magistrate, in his ruling, stated that the application made by the prosecutor was not inline with the law, as the case before the court was not about the security of the witness, and asked him to proceed with his witness.

At that juncture, the prosecutor applied for an adjournment on the grounds that his witness had left without his notice, and applied for a bench warrant to ensure the appearance of the witness.

Both applications were granted

The case continues.

The police accused Lasana Jobarteh, that between 14 and 15 December 2013 while attending UDP political rallies at Buffer Zone in the KMC and Brikama and diverse places, talked on Skype using an IPOD to give information to abroad without a broadcasting licence, and thereby committed an offence.