The police have brought a fresh amended charge against 19 prison inmates at the Mile 2 State Central Prison, who were accused of attempting to break out of the prison, before the Banjul Magistrates’ Court presided over by Principal Magistrate Taiwo Ade Alegba.
The accused persons are Sulayman Jammeh, Lamin Saidykhan, Gibbi Sey, Mustapha Camara, Echen Mendy, Lamin Danso, Muhammed Singhateh, Lamin Njie, Ousman Sonko, Ousman B. Njie, Abdou saidy, Muhammed Dicko, Abdou Sanno, Moses Mbajo, Musa Jallow, Fafa Fatty, Modou Mbenga, Basirou Bah and Modou Musa Jallow.
The new amended charge includes conspiracy to commit misdemeanor, willful damage to property, attempted to commit misdemeanor and assault.
According to the particulars of offence on count one, Sulayman Jammeh and 18 others, on 27 October 2012 at the remand wing of Mile 2 Central Prisons in
Count 2 stated that Sulayman Jammeh and 18 others, on 27 October 2012 at the remand wing of Mile 2 Central Prisons in
The charge sheet on count three stated that, Sulayman Jammeh and 18 others, on the same date place and time, with intent to commit a misdemeanor, attempted to escape from lawful custody by breaking the padlocks to the eleven cells and destroying the bathroom wall in the remand wing.
Count four stated that Gibbi Sey, Echen Mendy, Moses Mbajo, Abdou Sanno and Ousman Sonko, on 27 October 2012 at the Mile2 Central Prisons, unlawful assaulted one Cpl Amadou Tamba, a prison officer, by beating him.
They all denied the charge preferred against them.
Defence counsel Jah told the court that the accused persons had been in solitary confinement since the alleged offence was committed.
He pointed out that the prisons authority had ample time to investigate the case to know who were the people involved in the act, noting that they had being charged and it would not be proper to maintain them in solitary confinement.
Counsel added that the accused persons had complained to the court that they were kept in confinement since the alleged offence was committed, and were later brought before the court.
In response, the prosecuting officer, Sergeant Manga, told the court that the prison authority needed to have rules and regulations, which any detainee should adhere to.
Delivering the ruling, the trial magistrate said the court believes the accused persons should not be constantly kept in solitary confinement, as that would tantamount to the abuse of their human rights.
He added that to keep the accused persons in solitary confinement means the prisons authority had acted before the verdict of the court, which presumes innocence until proven guilty by the competent court.
The case was then adjourned till 3 December 2012, for hearing.