By Kemeseng Sanneh (Kexx)
The trial of Arona Tine, who is charged with the killing of one Fatoumata Kagbo, a staff of HM Bureau Exchange de Change, was adjourned by the Court.
Mr Tine is charged with murder, contrary to Section 187 and punishable under Section 188 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
The trial is adjourned because the Attorney General’s Chambers had not received the case file from the police to prepare a bill of indictment, state counsel Drammeh says.
The case has been brought before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh for the first time after being moved from a Magistrate Court on 29 January 2024, due to lack of jurisdiction.
When the case was called, Counsel Drammeh identified himself as the representative of the State, while the accused had no legal representation.
As a result, Counsel Drammeh sought an adjournment, requesting time to obtain the necessary documentations from the police before the next court hearing.
In response to the State Counsel’s request, Justice Jaiteh emphasized the seriousness of the case, highlighting that the accused had been in remand since January 29, 2024. He stressed the need for the state to fulfill its duties diligently by urgently prosecuting the case.
“The state has to do their work diligently and seriously, and if there is something in the matter, they have to come to court and explain,” Justice Jaiteh emphasized.
He said the accused person has rights that should be respected, adding that the state cannot dump him in Mile 2 without any effort to prosecute him. Justice Jaiteh noteh that any delay in the trial could lead to the unavailability of witnesses due to travel or death.
Justice Jaiteh granted the application sought by the state Counsel and adjourned the case to March 11, 2024, for continuation.
If readers could recall, Arona Tine was arraigned before principal Magistrate Sallah Mbye, for the alleged murder of Fatoumatta Kagbo, a staff of HM Bureau de Change at Westfield.
Principal magistrate Mbye remanded the alleged murderer (Arona Tine) pending his appearance at the High Court.
In her ruling, Principal Magistrate Mbye said that after considering the prosecution’s application and examining the law, she agreed that the court did not have jurisdiction to hear the case.
As a result, she ordered the transfer of the case to the special criminal court and also ordered the accused person to be remanded at the State Central Prison in Mile 2, pending hearing at the High Court.
