The attempted rape case involving one Modou Lamin Badjie commenced on 2 December 2015, before Magistrate Kijera of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.
The first prosecution witness, Lamin Fadera, was led by the state counsel to give evidence.
In his testimony, the witness told the court he lives at Brikama, and is a police officer.
He recognised the accused.
Mr Fadera further testified that on 12 June 2015, he was on duty at Manjai Kunda Police Station.
The accused, Modou Lamin Badjie, was taken to the police station for attempted rape.
Fadera was ordered by the station officer to obtain a cautionary statement from the accused, and he invited an independent witness.
Fadera added that he read the cautionary statement in English and translated it in Mandinka, which the accused understood. The accused narrated what happened.
After writing the cautionary statement, the accused thumb-printed and the independent witness signed, and Fadera also signed.
The cautionary statement was shown to him by the state counsel to identify, which Fadera did.
The state counsel then applied to tender it.
The cautionary statement was shown to the accused, who did not object to tendering it.
Magistrate Kijera granted the application, and the cautionary statement was admitted as an exhibit.
The accused then said he had no questions to ask the witness.
The cautionary statement was then read by the magistrate, and the accused confirmed that it was the statement Fadera read to him.
The state counsel then told the court that he wanted to bring the victim as a witness, but the child’s parents were not cooperating for the accused to be prosecuted.
He applied to the court to subpoena the girl’s father to come and testify before the court.
It appeared the family did not want to proceed with the case, the magistrate observed, but granted the application.
The case was adjourned to 10 December 2015.
