The state represented by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) S.H. Barkun yesterday filed a new bill of indictment, in the economic crime case involving Ebrima Jawara and four other senior ministry of Agriculture officials before Justice Abi of the Banjul High Court.
When the case was called, DPP Barkun appeared for the state while senior counsel H.S. Sabally appeared for the 1st accused and B.S. Touray appeared for the 4th and 5th accused.
DPP Barkun then informed the court that they have filed a bill of indictment, but the defence was not served.
He said in the new bill of indictment only Ebrima Jawara, Dr Alassan Bah and Sulayman Manneh are charged while the 4th accused Lamin Mass and 5th accused Lamin Fatajo “are not charged”.
At that juncture, the defence counsel, BS Touray, who represented the 4th and 5th accused persons, said since his clients were not in the new bill of indictment he was craving the indulgence of the court for them to step down from the dock.
The trial judge, Justice Abi, however, said the new bill of indictment was not yet before the court.
The case was then adjourned until 14 March 2016 for plea on the new bill of indictment, and the 4th and 5th accused will have to be in court for them to be properly discharged.
