Twenty-four
government officials, charged with neglect of official duty and abuse of
office, were yesterday discharged by Magistrate Isatou Janneh-Njie of the
Banjul Magistrates’ Court.
This
development followed the application made by the prosecuting officer, Chief
Inspector Camara, to withdraw the case.
When
the case was called, prosecutor Camara said he was representing the IGP along
with Sergeant Jaiteh and prosecutor Dambely.
Lawyers
Omar Njie, Combeh Gaye and Yassin Senghore represented the accused persons.
Prosecutor
Camara stood up and told the court that the prosecution was taking a “very new
twist” in the case.
He
stated that the prosecution was applying to withdraw the case, in pursuance of
section 68 (1) of the CPC.
He
said the accused persons were arrested on 4 July 2016, by the NIA, and were
subsequently arraigned before the court on 30 August 2016. It had come to the
notice of the authorities, looking at the circumstances, that the accused were
very prominent in the society and the civil service.
The
accused persons were all dismissed from their various capacities, and “they are
no small people in their capacities.”
Prosecutor
Camara stated further that taking cognizance of all the facts, the prosecution
had no option but to withdraw the case.
Lawyer
Omar Njie then rose and told the court that he had no objection to the
prosecutor’s application to withdraw the charge against the accused persons, in
respect of the case before the court.
Yassin
Senghore also said she was not objecting to the application made by the
prosecutor.
Magistrate
Janneh-Njie then granted the application made by the prosecutor, and discharged
all the accused persons.
Lawyer
Omar Njie stood up again and applied for the court to order for the return of
the title deeds of the accused persons and other documents.
The
presiding magistrate subsequently granted the application made by Omar Njie for
the said documents to be returned to the accused persons.
She
further urged the prosecutor to facilitate the process.
