(Thursday 22nd October 2009 Issue)
Justice Moses Richards of the Special Criminal Court of the High Court on Tuesday issued a stern warning to State Counsel prosecuting the 11 Senegalese and 5 Gambians, who are charged with terrorism.
Justice Moses Richards of the Special Criminal Court of the High Court on Tuesday issued a stern warning to State Counsel prosecuting the 11 Senegalese and 5 Gambians, who are charged with terrorism.
Justice Richards giving his order told the court that the state must turn up in the next adjourned date, 29thOctober, 2009, noting that since the case started four weeks ago, it suffered a series of adjournments. He pronounced that the court will give consideration of giving bail to the accused persons if State Counsel fails to turn-up.
This development arose when Lawyer Lamin Camara, defending the13thaccused person, told the court that the State Counsel is not complying with the order of the court, stating that for four weeks now the case has not proceeded, despite the court?s order for proper indictment as none of the accused persons is formally charged and are yet to take their pleas.
In reply, State Counsel Yusuf, who was holding brief for Bakum told the court that Bakum is out of the jurisdiction, but will surely come at the next adjourned date.
Lawyer Assan Martin, who appears for the 10th, 14th, and 15thaccused persons told the court that he was new in the case, but he would surely familiarise himself with it before the next adjourned date.
Lawyer Edrissa Sissaho is representing the rest of the accused persons.
The 16 accused person are: Alasan Thomas Jarju, Maulud Badjie, Lasana Prosper Sambou, Ousman Jarju, Mansur Jatta, Sedat Jatta, Dawda Jatta, Fabia Nyafuneh, Pap Ousman Badjie, Abdoulie Jatta, Muminu Bah, are all Senegalese, while Samsideen Jammeh, Kebba Secka, Kemo Conteh, Sam Kambai and Abdoulie Jarju are Gambians.
The particulars offence states that Alasan Thomas Jarju and his co-accused persons on or about 8thAugust, 2006, at Dasilameh and diverse places, jointly conducted or engaged themselves in an unlawful act, which could have seriously destabilised or destroyed the foundation, political, constitution, economic and social structures of The Gambia.
