By Mamadou Dem
Principal Magistrate Momodou M.S. Jallow has scheduled to deliver judgment in the three years long criminal trial involving 
Lamin Waa Juwara, former minister of local government, lands and traditional rulers, and two others, namely Tamsir Onasis Konteh, a local businessman, and Hamidou Jallow, erstwhile Principal Lands Evaluation Officer at the Department of Lands and Survey.
Prior to adjourning the matter to 14th March for judgment, State Counsel Babucarr Drammeh adopted the prosecution’s brief filed on the 31st December 2015 and urged the court to convict the accused persons accordingly. “The said briefs and final addresses on points of law are hereby adopted,” said Drammeh.
Lawyer Abdulai Sisohor, representing the second accused, Hamidou Jallow, who also held brief for Sheriff Tambadou and Lamin Mboge, the lawyers for Tamsir Onasis Konteh and Waa Juwara, respectively, adopted the arguments filed on behalf of all the accused persons on different dates and urged the court to acquit and discharge them accordingly.
The trial magistrate consequently ruled that the three addresses on the accused persons are adopted. He then adjourned the matter to the said date.
This trial has lasted for almost three years and during which the state called some witnesses, including the then deputy IGP, Edward Sambou, and one Mr. Sallah from the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), amongst others. Several references were made on land allocations and relocations in Tanji layout for plots number C8 and C9 respectively. Upon the closure of the prosecution’s case, all accused persons were ordered to open their defence which they complied with and consequently the matter was scheduled for adoption and judgment.
