Nine
former members of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) were yesterday
arraigned at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court and charged with two criminal counts
of conspiracy to commit felony and murder.
The
accused persons are Yankuba Badjie, former Director General, Louis Gomez,
former Deputy Director, Saikou Omar Jeng alias Sir Jeng, former Director of
Operations, Haruna Suso, Yusupha Jammeh, Lamin Lang Sanyang, Tamba Masireh,
Lamin Darboe and Babucarr Sallah.
According
to the particulars of offence in count one, the aforementioned persons on 15
April 2016, at the NIA headquarters, in Banjul, conspired among themselves and
took part in the murder of one Solo Sandeng, and thereby committed an offence.
Prosecutors
alleged in count two that all the accused persons on 15 April 2016, at the NIA
headquarters, in the city of Banjul, jointly murdered one Solo Sandeng, and
thereby committed an offence.
All
the accused persons denied the charges and were subsequently remanded at the
maximum security wing of Mile 2 prison pending their appearance at the High
Court in Banjul.
Prior
to remanding the accused persons, police prosecutor Sub-Inspector Alpha Badjie,
said since the second count is a capital offence, for which the court lacks the
jurisdiction to try or hear, he was applying under section 62 of the Criminal
Procedure Code (CPC) to transfer the matter to the High Court.
Sub-Inspector
Badjie further submitted that since the alleged offences occurred at the same
time, he was applying for the matter to be transferred before the superior
court.
He
added that the accused persons be remanded, pending their appearance before the
said court.
Defence
counsel Emmanuel E. Chime, who represented Yankuba Badjie and Louis Gomez (1st
and 2nd accused), said they would make the necessary applications at the High
Court.
The
police prosecutor further disclosed to the court that they (the police)
received ‘Practice Directions’ from the Chief Justice that murder cases should
be transferred to the high court.
Magistrate
Janneh-Njie ruled that for the purpose of convenience, the matter should be
transferred to the said court.
All
accused persons were held under police custody, and were arraigned after the
expiry of the 72 hours as required by law.