Ensa Badjie and co case progresses

The case involving former police chief Ensa Badjie, Lt. Co Mam Matarr Secka, and Major Kuluteh Manneh proceeded yesterday at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul.

When the case was announced, defence counsel B.S Touray informed the court that the defence wished to file a no-case-to-answer submission.

However, this was objected to by the state counsel Ms Bowala, who said the defence could not rest their case on the case of the prosecution, as this was not applicable at the high court.

In response, B.S Touray told the court that the accused persons have the right to make a no-case-to-answer submission.

He further submitted that every accused person in a criminal trial has a right to make a no-case submission, citing a case were an accused person was acquitted and discharged on a no-case submission.

He then urged the court to overrule the objection.

The case at that juncture was adjourned till 5 March 2012, for ruling.

Meanwhile, the 3rd accused person, Major Kuluteh Manneh, informed the court that he needed to talk to his lawyer L.K Mboge, who was recently sentenced to two years in prison with hard labour at the State Central Prison Mile 2.

The trial judge at that juncture ordered the prison authorities to give the 3rd accused person one hour thirty minutes to discuss with his lawyer.