FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Musa Barrow
1 July 2009
The defence counsel for the NIA duo, Lamin Camara on Monday 29th June 2009, informed the trial magistrate that despite a Court bail, his clients, namely Demba Sowe and Babucarr Jallow are still being detained at the remand wing at Mile 2 Central Prison.
Mr. Camara made this statement at the Bundung Magistrate's Court presided over buy Magistrate Kumba Sillah Camara.
His remark came after an application by State counsel Bakum to adjourn the D1.6 million theft case involving the State and two accused persons, Demba Sowe and Babucarr Jallow. He said any delay of the trial amounts to a violation of the constitutional rights of the accused persons, especially their right to fair and speedy trial within a reasonable time. The defence counsel's submission was preceded by an application made by State counsel Bakum to adjourn the case, who argued that he needed adequate time to file some documents and to serve the defence counsel with proof of evidence.
When Magistrate Kumba Sillah Camara asked the State counsel whether his witness, who was supposed to testify, was in Court, he responded in the negative.
In her ruling Magistrate Kumba Sillah Camara adjourned the case to Wednesday 1st July for the tenth prosecution witness to testify in the case. She urged the State counsel to bring his witness in the next hearing date.
Earlier State counsel Bakum told the Court that the State has three to four witnesses who should testify in the case. Already nine prosecution witnesses had testified in the case.
It could be recalled that last week, charges against the NIA duo were amended. Instead of the initial three charges, the duo has been charged with eight counts of criminal offences. Among the charges are theft, abuse of office and fraud.
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