In Ex-IGP & co. voire dire, witness absence delays proceedings

The mini-trial or voire dire in the case of ex-police chief Ensa Badjie and two senior military officers could not proceed yesterday, as scheduled before Justice Emmanuel Amadi of the high court in Banjul.

When the case was called at 2pm, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Mikailu Abdullahi, told the court that Babucarr Khan, the independent witness, was the next prosecution witness he intended to call.

However, Mr. Khan was reportedly bereaved, and could not make it to the court, the DDPP announced.

"My lord, in this circumstance, we are applying for an adjournment to enable him come on the next adjournment date," the prosecutor added.

Defence counsel Borry S Touray did not object to the prosecution's application for an adjournment.

Subsequently, the case was adjourned to Thursday 19th August 2010 at 9:30 am.

It would be recalled that the trial within a trial commenced last Friday, following a court order to look into the defence claim that a cautionary statement was not voluntarily made by the 1st accused, Ensa Badjie.

Ensa Badjie, Lt. Colonel Mam Matarr Secka and Major Kuluteh Manneh are standing trial in a 51-count indictment, including sedition, economic crime, abuse of office, official corruption, obtaining money by false pretence, obtaining goods by false pretence, among others.