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Opposition politician, supporters Exonerated

Jun 20, 2008, 2:48 AM | Article By: By Abdoulie Nyockeh

Lamin R. Darboe, a former UDP candidate in Kombo East constituency, is now a free man following the striking out of his case by the Brikama Magistrates' Court for want of prosecution.

Mr. Darboe was charged alongside Buba Darboe and Jerreh Fatty for their alleged involvement in an assault that occasioned actual bodily.

The trio was on Tuesday acquitted and discharged of the charges for, according to magistrate John Njie, there wasn't substantial evidence before the court to rely on in convicting the men.

Magistrate Njie explained that since the case was mentioned nearly two years ago, the prosecution had only called in two witnesses to prove the ingredients of the matter beyond reasonable doubt. He however added that none of the prosecution witnesses' testimony was sufficient enough to prove the prosecution's case.

He consequently acquitted and discharged the men of the charges.

It would be recalled that the three men were rounded up by security agents shortly after the results of the 2006 Kombo East by-elections were made public. They were subsequently charged with assault before being arraigned.