FORMER HR DIRECTOR STILL DETAINED WITHOUT TRIAL

By Mustapha Jallow A former Human Resource Director of Gamtel/Gamcel, has been held in detention without trial at the state central prison at Mile Two outside the capital city of Banjul, according to a close source. Mr Seedy Jaiteh has being held incommunicado at the maximum security wing in Mile Two prison for one year now without access to his loved ones, a source lamented. Family members continue its call for the immediate release of their loved breadwinner. Mr Jaiteh’s unlawful detention is in contravention of section 19 of the Gambian Constitution, which requires a detainee to be brought before a court of law or be released with or without bail within 72 hours. He was earlier abducted in Manjai Kunda and later taken to their National Intelligence Agency (NIA) headquarters in Banjul, where he was briefly detained before being transferred to Milie II Prison. According to reports, at the time of his abduction, he was put into a waiting numberless vehicle with tinted glasses and whisked away. This prompted his family to go in search for him at the different known detention centres such as the NIA, Police Headquarters, NDEA Holgam Centre at Kanifing South and other police stations but in vain. A source said their loved one was finally traced at the NIA headquarters in Banjul where they were initially allowed to be taking food to him but which lasted for only few days. “Since 3 September 2014 the family members have been denied access to him,” added the source. It is also revealed that the family were highly optimistic that Mr. Jaiteh would be among those to be released by the President, as part of his mass pardoning of convicted prisoners, but were disappointed that their loved one was not among those released.  ]]>