The trial of twelve people accused of conspiracy to commit a felony and setting fire on cashew trees commenced yesterday at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Jeng.
They are Lamin B. Jarju, Saikou Ceesay, Saikou Sulayman Drammeh, Ebrima Badjie, Modou Demba, Ebrima Gassama, Modou Lamin Conteh, Alagie Manneh, Sulayman Colley, Kebba Njie, Baba Gaye, and Ebrima Bah.
It commenced with the testimony of the first prosecution witness (PW1), Valentine Mbeki, who told the court he was clearing his land when Lamin Jarju, Pap Jassey, Lamin Jallow and Nuha Saidykhan came and told him to go out of the place otherwise anything that happened to him was his fault.
He said he owned the land and he had documents for that land, adding that he later went and reported the matter to the Yundum Police Station.
Meanwhile, defence counsel Borry S. Touray applied to the court to have access to his clients at Mile 2, because since the start of the case, he was unable to interview them.
The application was granted and the case was adjourned till 15 October 2013, for PW1 to continue his testimony.
The particulars of offence on count one read that the accused persons, on 20 February 2013, at Makumbaya village, jointly conspired among themselves to commit a felony.
Count two read that on the same date and place, the accused persons conspired and set fire on 275 cashew trees valued at D75,000, being the property of one Francis Mendy.
