NIA officers case re-heard in chambers

The case involving senior members of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and a member of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) was yesterday heard in chambers for the second time, at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court before Principal Magistrate Alagbe Ade Taiwo.
The accused persons are Lamin Darboe, a senior NIA operative, Edrisa Jobe alias Alagie Morr, former head of the special operations unit at NIA, Ebrima Drammeh, NDEA commissioner at Kanifing Division and Omar Jammeh alias Boy Boots, officer commanding West Coast Region.
They are being tried on a charge of unlawful wounding with intent to do grievous harm, and for conspiracy.
It was alleged in count one that the accused persons in May 2009 at the NIA head office in Banjul, with intent to do some grievous harm to Lamin Kabou, unlawfully wounded Lamin Kabou by beating him with first blows, an electric cable and metals.
Count two further alleged that in May 2009 at the NIA head office in Banjul, they conspired to cause injury to the persons of Lamin Lamin Kabou and Lamin Sima.
When the case was called in an open court, defence counsel Abdoulie Sissoho reminded the court that the defence supposed to call their second witness, but wanted the case to be heard in chambers as the witness is a security personnel who does not want to give evidence in open court for security reasons.
The state counsel Anna Dibba raised no objection to the application, and the case was accordingly heard in chambers.
The case was thus adjourned till 10 July 2012, for hearing to continue.