In Dutch National's Trial, Defence to Make 'No Case' Submission

Lawyer Badou Conteh, defending Marc Maurice Alfred Vanmaldegum, the Dutch national facing criminal charges with escape of Andrew Charles Northfield of Carnegie Minerals Company, on Wednesday 7th January 2009 announced before Acting Principal Magistrate Sainabou Wadda-Ceesay of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court that he would be filing a 'no case' submission.

He made this announcement after Cadet Inspector Mballow, prosecuting, told the court that the prosecution has closed its case.

So far the prosecution had called five witnesses, three of whom are staff of Kombo Beach Hotel and two police officers to testify in the case.

Meanwhile, Cadet Inspector Mballow told the court that he would reply to defence counsel's address if served with a copy of the address.

Marc Maurice Alfred Vanmaldegum is the Operational Manager at the Kombo Beach Hotel and was first arraigned at the Banjul Magistrates' Court on a charge of aiding the escape of Andrew Charles Northfield of Minerals Company.

He is now facing two new count charges at the Kanifing Magistrates' Court.

Count one states that the accused on or about 3rd September 2008, at the Kombo Beach Hotel, where he works as Operations Manager, conspired with others at large to defeat the course of justice by communicating with Charles Andrew Northfield, a trial prisoner, knowing him to have absconded from trial.

Count two has it that the accused on the same day and place knowingly prevented the execution of a legal process by communicating with Charles Andrew Northfield who had absconded from trial and entered his room and removed his personal effects instead of reporting to the authorities.

Mr. Marc Maurice Alfred Vanmaldegum has however denied the charges.

The case was adjourned to the 23rd January 2009, for the adoption of the defence counsel's address and the reply of the prosecution, after which the trial magistrate would come up with a ruling as to whether the accused has a case to answer or not.