Prosecution closes case in alleged terrorism trial

The prosecution led by the deputy Director of the Public Prosecutions, S.H. Barkun, yesterday told the Special Criminal Court presided over by Justice Ikpala that the prosecution had closed its case in the criminal trial involving 16 alleged suspected terrorists.

This development followed the completion of the testimony of the prosecution's fourth witness.

The case was subsequently adjourned to 6 April 2011 for the accused persons to open their defence.

The accused persons are Alasana Thomas Jarju, Maulud Badjie, Lasana (Proper) Sambou, Ousman Jarju, Mansour Jatta, Sedat Jatta, Fabia Nyafuneh, Pa Ousman Badjie, Abdoulie Jatta, Mumin Bah and Abdoulie Jarju, all Senegalese, and Samsideem Jammeh, Kebba Seckan, Kemo Conteh and Sam Kambai, all Gambians.

They were alleged to have, on 8 August 2006 at Darsilameh village and diverse places in the West Coast Region of The Gambia, jointly conducted and engaged themselves in an act which may seriously destabilize or destroy the fundamental, political, constitutional, economic and social structure of The Gambia.

Readers would recall that the accused persons were first arraigned at the Brikama Magistrates' Court, in 2009, charged with "Prohibition of Act of Terrorism," contrary to Section 3 (1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002.

The case was later transferred to the Special Criminal Court of the high court in Banjul.