Golf Club, Radio Journalist Trial hold-back

The criminal trial involving four members of the Fajara Golf Club and West Coast Radio (WCR) Journalist, Bakary B. Baldeh suffered a set-back on April 12, 2011 at the Kanifing Magistrates Court.

The five accused persons are sharing two charges of “conspiracy to commit a felony”, and “prohibition of conduct to breach the peace” before Magistrate Sheriff B. Tabally.

They have since denied any wrong doing and are being represented by Counsels Pap Cheyassin Secka, Kebba Sanyang and Lamin Camara.

On Tuesday, a police prosecutor, Inspector Mballow asked the court for an adjournment on grounds that the prosecutor handling the case, Assistant Superintendent Camara is on leave and he has not yet acquainted himself with the case and doesn’t even have the charges.

“ASP Camara did not hand over the case file to me, but I assume that someone will be handling the case before he resume. I am told that a witness is to give testimony, but I will not be able to lead the witness since I am not familiar with the case,” he said.

The counsel for the 3^rd and 4^th accused persons (Almamy Jagne and Bakary Njie), Pap Cheyassin Secka submitted that the defence cannot raise any objection to the prosecution’s application, and the Magistrate decides to adjourn the case till April 28, 2011 at 10am.

The particulars of offence for Count One “Conspiracy to Commit a Felony”, stated that Lamin Drammeh, Lamin Tamba, Almamy Jagne, Bakary Njie and Bakary B. Baldeh on or about the 11^th of February, 2011 at Fajara and diverse places in the Kanifing Municipality of the Republic of The Gambia; you jointly amongst others conspired to commit a felony to wit: incitement to violence; thereby committed an offence.

The particulars for Count two “Prohibition of Conduct to Breach of the Peace”, stated that Lamin Drammeh, Lamin Tamba and Bakary Njie; on or about 12^th February, 2011 at Fajara Golf in the Kanifing Municipality of the Republic of The Gambia; you jointly and unlawfully while at the said place uttered abusive terms on the person of Lady Njaimeh Jawara in a manner likely to occasioned a breach; thereby committed an offence.

The small court room was packed with a host of sports journalists from the print and electronic, including senior sports writers and members of the Sport Journalists Association of The Gambia (SJAG) and sympathizers. Source – The Voice