The
Special Criminal Court in Banjul presided over by Justice O. Ottaba yesterday
ordered the prisons authority to produce the original death certificate and
autopsy report on Solo Kuruma, in the case involving 15 supporters of the
United Democratic Party (UDP).
The
accused persons are Bakary Jammeh, Kaddy Samateh, Lele Bojang, Alkali Sanneh,
Yaya Fatty, Solo Kuruma (deceased), Muhammed Singhateh, Kemo Touray, Bakary
Marong, Buba Mass, Alhagie Saidykhan, Tombong Njie, Modou Sarr, Sheriff Suno,
and Lamin Dampha.
They
were indicted on several counts ranging from conspiracy to commit felony,
unlawful assembly, riot, incitement of violence, riotously interfering with
vehicles, to holding a procession without permit and disobeying an order to
disperse from an unlawful procession.
When
the case was called, Rachel Y. Mendy appeared for the accused persons alongside
Yasin Senghore and Aji Combeh Gaye, whilst B. Jaiteh appeared for the state.
R.Y.
Mendy then said all the accused persons were present in court except the 6th
accused person, Solo Kuruma, and that only the prosecution could explain why he
was not in court.
Responding,
state counsel B. Jaiteh said: “We are informed by the prisons authorities that
the 6th accused person had passed away.”
The
head of the prisons escort, Kalipha Bojang, said Solo Kuruma passed away last
month.
The
trial judge then asked him for the death certificate.
Counsel
R.Y. Mendy said this was something that should be brought before the court,
because the state kept mentioning the 6th accused in the case.
She
said they were also told that an autopsy was conducted on the deceased, adding
that the autopsy report should be provided along with the death certificate.
The
head of the prisons escort, Bojang, told the court they have the autopsy report
and the death certificate at their office.
The
judge then told him that the original copies of the documents should be
provided to the court.
Counsel
R.Y. Mendy then said there was a pending application for bail before the court,
adding that the state had been served and they filed an affidavit in opposition
to which they would like to reply.
She
said they wanted to move it orally.
Counsel
Mendy further stated that they were denied access to their clients at Mile 2,
and when they visited them they kept them waiting for 3 hours only to be told
they could not see them.
They
also kept on telling them that the one responsible was not around.
The
trial judge then ordered for both parties to file written briefs for the bail
application.
On
the issue of having access to their clients, the trial judge said it was the
constitutional rights of the accused persons to have access to their lawyers.
He
then ordered the DG of prisons to allow counsel access to their clients.
The
prison authorities were also ordered to produce to the court the original
copies of the autopsy report and death certificate of Solo Kuruma.
The
case was adjourned until 5 October 2016 at 12pm, for adoption of briefs.
