By RoheyJadama
Chief inspector Camara yesterday 28 April told the Banjul Magistrates’ Court presided over Principal Magistrate Omar Cham that
the case file of Ansuman Jammeh, former Gambian Ambassador to Qatar, Sanna Bah and Assan Badjie has been sent to the Attorney General’s Chambers.
The trio is currently standing trial on a joint charge of conspiracy and a single count of official corruption to which they pleaded not guilty.When the case was called, CI Camara told the court that they are applying for an adjournment because the case file is sent to Attorney General’s Chambers and because of that they cannot access their witnesses.
Responding to the prosecutor, Lawyer Lamin S. Camara said the reason forwarded by the prosecution is not cogent because the accused persons are remanded and that they have a constitutional right to a speedy trial.
Camara further argued that he has a case at the high court which he could not attend as he wants this case to proceed and of which a cost of D3000.00 is awarded against him. He applied for the matter to be stood down to enable the prosecution to call their witnesses.
Magistrate Cham interjected and recalled that he ruled that this case should be heard expeditiously.
However, CI Camara insisted that they have been adhering to that order but a new development arose in which they are required to send the case file to AG Chambers.
He further told the court that the investigators are currently engaged in the current cases at the high court and that the numbers of witnesses are in the file.
Barrister Camara argued that the reasons advanced by the prosecution are a mockery to the court’s order to accelerate hearing in the case.
He further argued that these excuses are very lame and urged the court to discharge the accused persons until the prosecution is ready to proceed. “You cannot arrest, charge and remand someone and they don’t have access to their family, clothing and food and nobody goes to mille 2 for holidays,” said Lawyer Camara.
He added that under the Prisons Act the accused persons, as remanded prisoners, should have access to food, visits and clothing until the final determination of the case.
Responding to the defence counsel, prosecutor Camara said they send people to the remand wing at Mile 2 but they cannot tell the prison authorities what to do with them.
At this juncture, the trial magistrate adjourned the case to Monday, 3 May, 2016 for hearing.
