State prosecutors and witnesses for the prosecution have for the past three days not been seen at the high court Banjul, prompting the adjournment of all criminal cases scheduled for hearing before Justice Emmanuel Amadi.
Their absence has not been explained, and the latest case to be affected was the criminal trial involving the ex chief of the anti narcotics agency, Ibrahim Bun Sanneh, and four others, which yesterday also failed to proceed.
When this reporter called at the high court to cover scheduled cases, it was observed that the prosecutor(s) and the judge were all not present in the courtroom.
The accused persons, it emerged, were brought to court, but were returned to the remand wing of Mile 2 prison.
It was later communicated to the parties concerned that the case has been adjourned to 1st July 2010 at 1 pm, without any explanation or the reason(s) given for this latest adjournment.
Readers would recall that during the last adjournment date defence counsel representing the accused persons urged the trial judge, Justice Emmanuel Amadi, to discharged the accused persons for what the defence team described as the prosecution's lack readiness and seriousness to prosecute them.
The defence team which comprised LK Mboge, Kebba Sanyang and PC Secka further told Justice Amadi to release the accused persons on bail, in the special circumstances, on terms and conditions until such time that the prosecution is ready and willing to proceed with the matter.
According to counsel, the delay is causing great injustice to the accused persons, who are remanded in custody.
Bun Sanneh and his co-accused persons, all of whom pleaded not guilty, are facing a 30-count charge, which includes conspiracy to commit felony, stealing by person in public service, aiding and abetting, unlawfully possession of fire arm, unlawfully possession of live ammunitions, concealment and destroying of evidence, official corruption, abuse of office, committing economic crimes, and obtaining money by false pretence.
