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DPS Njie Acquitted and Discharged

Jul 9, 2008, 6:26 AM | Article By: By Yerro Mballow & Malamin Conteh

The Bundung Magistrates' Court yesterday declared Momodou O. Njie, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Department of State for Forestry and Environment, a free man.

Mr. Njie was standing trial for an alleged offence of impersonation, a charge he vehemently denied.

The decision of the court to acquit and discharge Mr. Njie followed a 'no case' submission made by his counsel, Lawyer Lamin Camara and a reply made by the prosecution.

In her ruling, Magistrate Kumba Sillah-Camara maintained that the court had carefully considered the evidence before it and found that the prosecution had not proven their case beyond reasonable doubt.

She adduced that before a 'no case' submission can be admitted, it has to show that there is corroboration in the evidence of the prosecution's witnesses as well as a link to the accused person's offence.

She adduced that both prosecution witnesses' testimonies rendered before the court had not shown any credit during the cross-examination. She explained that no competent and reliable court would rely on such evidence to convict the accused.