By Mustapha Jallow
Mr. Ousman Jammeh, the former deputy minister of agriculture, is still
languishing at the Mile Two central prison without access to his
family for 160 days today, 21 March 2016, according to a family
source.The former cabinet member was arrested and subsequently detained on
the same day when he was removed from his position on 15 October,
2015.
According to the source, since then the family is denied access to him
and is also not aware of any wrongdoing or charges against him.
The family is said to be very worried about Mr. Jammeh’s state of
health and condition in detention since they are not allowed to visit
or take food and clothes to him all throughout the course of his
detention.
Mr. Jammeh’s family is also said to be urging the authorities to allow
them access and facilitate his immediate release from incommunicado
detention.
The former deputy agric minister’s detention without charge
or trial is in gross violation of section 19 of the 1997 Constitution
of the Second Republic which states that “Any person who is arrested
or detained… who is not released, shall be brought without undue delay
before a court of law and, in any event, within 72 hours.”
