By Kebba Jeffang
Today, Wednesday, 20th July, 2016 at 4pm, Justice Dada of criminal division of the Banjul High Court will decide the fate of Lawyer
Ousainou Darboe, the Secretary General and leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP) together with 19 members of the party.
This Information was delivered by the trial judge on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 after the prosecution’s brief was adopted and the defendants said they have no brief to file in the case.
State Counsel Saleh Barkun, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) informed the court that their written address dated 12th July, 2016 was filed on the same day. “We wish to adopt it as our final address in this matter and we are urging the court to convict the accused persons as charged.”
At this juncture, the court asked the first accused person Ousainou Darboe if they intend to file anything and he responded in the negative.
“In the absence of any address from the defence, I shall rely on the prosecution’s address to determine the case. Therefore, this matter is adjourned till 20th July, at 4pm for judgment,” she ruled.
Meanwhile, the first accused Darboe submitted that “It is true we have not filed any address in the matter but we noticed that DPP has filed the address out of time. And he did not apply for any extension of time to enable him to file their address as required by law. Due to this circumstance, court cannot rely on that document to determine its judgment.”
However, there was no answer or reaction from the court on this submission.
The accused first appeared in court on 20 April charged at first with six counts but this was later increased to seven counts. They have always been refused bail.
The other accused persons are Kemeseng Jammeh, Femi Peters, Lamin Dibba, Lamin Jatta, Yahya Bah, Baboucarr Camara, Fakebba Colley, Ismaila Ceesay, Samba Kinteh, Dodou Ceesay, Samba Kinteh, Mamudou Manneh, Nfamara Kuyateh, Fanta Darboe, Lamin Njie, Juguna Suso, Momodou L.K Sanneh, Yaya Jammeh and Masaneh Lalo Jawla.
