Modou Manga's case suffers setback

The criminal trial of one Modou Manga, who was alleged to have stolen 1952 bags of rice at KGI, had suffered a ten-month setback at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.

Inspector Mballow, the prosecuting officer, called his third prosecution witness, Sally Bojang, on 17 January 2010 to testify against the accused, who denied the allegation.

It is now ten months since the third prosecution witness testified and the prosecuting officer, Inspector Mballow, is yet to bring his fourth witness.

It would be recalled that the accused, Modou Manga, was detained at the Mile 2 prison for eleven months before he was granted bail by the former Master of the High Court, Pa Harry Jammeh.

This followed orders made by former Magistrates Buba Jawo, Sagarr Jahateh and Magistrate Mbacke to release the accused, but their orders were disobeyed.

Magistrate Mbacke once pronounced that he would not proceed with the case if his order was disobeyed.

The Minister of Justice, Edward Gomez, who was then representing the accused, argued that his client was wrongfully detained, adding that it was an infringement of the constitutional right of the accused person. "Justice delayed is justice denied," he told the court.

Lawyer Assan Martin is presently representing the accused person.

The case, which is now before Magistrate Tabally of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court, was adjourned till 9 December 2010, for the prosecution to bring its fourth witness to testify, after a ten-month delay.

Modou Manga was first arraigned before former Magistrate Buba Jawo in 2008.