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| Alagie Jobe is still in custody from February 2013 |
The Kanifing Magistrates Court, which is presiding over the case, was
told on April 30 that “first prosecution witness Jawor Darboe is sick”.
Exactly a week ago, the trial could not proceed after it was announced
that the police officer has traveled out of The Gambia.
Jobe is facing seven criminal charges including sedition. He has pleaded
not guilty since March 12 this year when he first appeared at the lower court.
On Tuesday, Magistrate Hilary Abeke, presiding, was told State
prosecutor A.M Yusuf sent an SMS (short message on mobile phone) to defence
counsel Seega Gaye that he would not be in court because the first prosecution
witness Jawor Darboe is sick.
Seega Gaye, defence counsel for Jobe’s co-accused Mbaye Bittaye, lamented
that the first witness last testified three weeks ago. He admitted that
prosecutor Yusuf text him saying his witness is sick, but, urges the Court to
strikeout the case.
Gaye said the prosecution should have written to court to explain why it
is not represented in court. He also laments the continued detention of the
first accused, Alagie Jobe.
“My lord, we are reminding the Court that the Alagie Jobe is still in
state custody. You can strikeout the case until the State ready to proceed with
the trial,” said Gaye, who was holding brief for Jobe’s lawyer Ebrima Jah.
He said the prosecution is yet to comply with the Court order to serve
the defence with Jobe’s cautionary and voluntary statements.
Gaye’s application for the case to be struck-out, the accused persons be
acquitted and discharged was overruled by Magistrate Abeke.
The trial is expected to continue next Tuesday.
Jobe was denied bail once more on April 23 by the High Court in
Banjul, the capital city of The Gambia and has been under State custody since
his arrest in early February this year.
His co-accused Mbaye Bittaye, an employee of the mobile telephony
company, Africell, who has been granted bail by the High Court, is facing a
charge of “unlawful inquiries relating to possibility of forgery”.
He too has pleaded not guilty since March 12. READ ORIGINAL STORY HERE
Written by Modou S. Joof
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