(Wednesday July 20, 2016 Issue)
Magistrate
Abeke of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court yesterday ordered for the arrest of
Sukai Dahaba, who has absconded, in the case of six UDP alleged protesters.
He
also ordered the arrest of her surety, one Momodou Dahaba.
He
made the orders following the application made by the state counsel, Sheriff
Kumba Jobe, for the arrest of Sukai Dahaba and her surety.
Sukai
Dahaba, along with Isatou Saidy, Lele Bojang, Kaddy Samateh, Fatoumatta Sarr
and Amie Touray, were earlier brought before the court to answer to charges of
conspiracy, unlawful assembly, riot, incitement of violence, riotously
interfering with vehicles, holding procession without a permit and disobeying
an order to disperse from an unlawful procession.
Sukai
Dahaba has not been coming to the past court sittings.
When
the case was called, Sheriff Kumba Jobe said he was representing the state
along with A. Sambou.
Lawyer
Amie Jobe told the court that she was representing the accused persons.
She
then applied to the court for a stand down, because Isatou Saidy was not in
court, adding that the accused was on her way to the court.
The
state counsel did not oppose the application made by the defence counsel.
The
application was granted and the case was stood down.
Isatou
Saidy later walked into the courtroom.
When
the case resumed, the state counsel told the court that the fourth accused,
Sukai Dahaba, was absent and the court made an order for her surety to be
arrested to show cause why he should not forfeit the bail bond to the state.
He
said several attempts had been made to have the surety in court, but to no
avail.
They
tried to locate his address and house where he lives, without success.
They
also tried to look for him at the restaurant where he works.
Jobe
added that Dahaba’s address is Latrikunda German, and this is a big place which
has no street names and address.
He
further stated that if a specific place or compound was not identified, it
would create problems for future reference.
These
were the same problems they encountered to trace him, he told the court.
In
the same vein, he continued, some time last week, they were at the high court
on a similar matter, where the 2nd and 3rd accused persons were involved.
The
high court made an order for the 2nd and 3rd accused persons to be transferred
to the high court, to face similar charges.
S.K.
Jobe said he was reliably informed that the court was served with the same
order.
In
addition, he went on, they intended to withdraw the charges against the 1st,
5th, and 6th accused persons, adding that the application was in pursuance of
section 68 (1) (a) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
He
then urged the court to grant the application.
Magistrate
Abeke, in his ruling, said he listened to the state counsel’s application to
withdraw the case against the 1st, 5th and 6th accused persons.
He
also stated that he had seen the order of the high court dated 12 July 2016,
and in compliance with the high court order, the 2nd and 3rd accused persons
were by the order of the high court transferred to the high court to face
charges against them.
He
added that the charges against the 1st, 5th and 6th accused persons were
withdrawn.
He
then discharged them.
The
case was adjourned, pending the arrest of Sukai Dahaba and her surety.
