By Lamin Sanyang The case of Lawyer Ebrima Jah, a Gambian private legal practitioner, could not proceed yesterday, Monday, 23 June, before Justice Emmanuel Amadi of the Special Criminal Court of the Banjul High Court. The matter was set for mention to allow the accused, Lawyer Jah, to take his plea, but the case could not proceed for the second time as the accused was not in court. During the previous sitting, the state prosecutor told the court that the accused was on police bail and was not sure whether he was served with a notice which has prompted the judge to adjourn the case. He ordered for the court server to serve the accused with a notice to appear before him in the next sitting. Information emanating from the court has it that the prosecution is planning to reach the police to contact the sureties of the accused person as the prosecutor said in the last sitting (Thursday) that they would make the necessary applications if the accused fails to appear in the next sitting (yesterday). Meanwhile, ASP David Kujabi, the police spokesperson, when contacted on the matter, said he was not aware whether the court has notified the police about the sureties of the accused person. He said he would need time to find out but could not be reached at the time of going to press. The office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), has filed in a one-count criminal charge of official corruption against Ebrima Jah, a legal practitioner, before the Special Criminal Court in Banjul, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Amadi. The prosecution alleged that the accused (Ebrima Jah) on or about 20th March 2014 at Banjul in the Banjul city council, whilst serving as counsel for the plaintiff in suit number HC/022/14/CO/006/D2 multi steel company LTD versus Omar Jasseh and another one pending before her ladyship Justice Awa Bah, offered the sum of one-hundred thousand dollars ($100, 000), which is equivalent to four million dalasi (D4, 000, 000), to the said judge in a bid to influence her to decide the case in his favour. ]]>
