High Court set to adopt convicts’ appeal

Justice Emmanuel Amadi of the High Court in Banjul is set to adopt the appeal filed by six convicts’ all of whom are former National Intelligence Agency (NIA) officers.

The court will take into consideration the appellants stand and the state respondent on May 5, 2011.

The appellants: Lamin Drammeh, Lamin Sanneh, Basiru Jabang, Kajali Jawara, Salimina Drammeh, and Fabakary Barrow filed an appeal against a conviction on four counts of (conspiracy to commit felony, abuse of office, criminal trespass and stealing) by the Kanifing  Municipality District Court presided by Magistrate Fatou Lili Drammeh.

Their Counsel Badou S.M. Conteh, told the court that the appellants has filed a written brief, which is also served to the state respondent, to which, the State Counsel A.M. Yusuf acknowledged, but noted that he could not reply.

Justice Amadi gave the state counsel 14 days to reply to the appellants’ briefs, while he adjourned the case till 5^th May, 2011 for adaptation of briefs from both parties.

Recall

The convicts said to have conspired amongst themselves to commit felony on count one; accused of stealing from a German national, Dr. Frank Mahler, the sum $205, 600;  D1, 100; a Siemen mobile phone; and eight diamond stones on 23^rd June, 2003 in room F15 at the Senegambia Beach Hotel.

On count three, they were accused abusing their authority as employees in the Public Service (the NIA) on 28 June, 2003 at Senegambia Beach Hotel, and carried prejudicial to the rights of Dr. Frank Mahler and Niklas Wastphal, while count four said they entered and took the property with intent to intimidate two German Nationals, Dr. Frank Mahler and Niklas Wastphal.

They were all found guilty on the above offences, and convicted from three to four years imprisonment on December 6, 2011. However, four months on, they decided to contest the decision of the lower court. Source - The Voice