The
criminal trial involving the state against one Lamin Jaiteh failed to proceed
yesterday, before Justice O. Ottaba of the High Court in Banjul.
The
accused was charged with acting as intermediary for the purpose of human
trafficking.
The
particulars of offence stated that the accused between August and December 2015
in Serekunda and diverse places in The Gambia, acted as agent of Mona Sabah
Tahir Manpower Services, a recruitment agency in Kuwait, by recruiting over
three people to travel to Kuwait for the purpose of exploitation.
When
the matter came up yesterday, state counsel E. Sanneh told the court that state
counsel A. Mendy, who is handling the case, was absent.
He
pleaded with the court to give him a short stand down of the case, so as he
could go search for him.
Counsel
added that he does not have the case file, as he was not verbally briefed about
the case.
At
this junction, presiding Judge O.Ottaba disclosed that state counsel Mendy
wrote to the court that he was travelling out of the jurisdiction.
In
response, defence counsel Makick Jallow said the Justice ministry is an
institution where there are many highly qualified lawyers, who should have
taken the case in the absence of lawyer Mendy.
He
said the matter was slated for cross-examination of the first prosecution
witness, adding that another state counsel could have been present to take
notes on his behalf.
He
further disclosed that the absence of one state counsel should not mean that
the case should be laid to rest, and described counsel writing to the court
that he was travelling out of the jurisdiction, and not communicating same to
the defence, as disappointing.
The
matter was then adjourned until 29 November 2016.
