Magistrate Fedrick Forster of the Bundung Magistrates’ Court recently acquitted and discharged one Saikou Gibba, who was charged with giving false information and perjury.
Saikou Gibba was called as a state witness in the D1.6million case involving Demba Sowe and Abubacarr Jallow, both former senior NIA operatives.
In delivering his judgment, the trial magistrate stated that the accused Saikou Gibba was charged with the offence of giving false information to a public officer and perjury, for which he pleaded not guilty.
He added that the prosecution had called in seven witnesses in support of their case, while the defence called two witnesses in support of their defence.
Magistrate Forster stated that he had carefully perused the evidence adduced by both the prosecution and the defence, adding that the evidence adduced by the prosecution witnesses did not in any way link the accused to the offence charged and the facts adduced by the prosecution did not support the charge against the accused.
He stated that the burden of proof lied on the prosecution and the prosecution could not prove their case beyond all reasonable doubts.
“The prosecution had woefully failed to prove their case against the accused person and consequently the court hereby acquit and discharge him accordingly,” the magistrate concluded.
