Posted by By Dawda Faye
Magistrate P. M. Sarr of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on earlier today, told the prosecutor in the case involving Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay, who is widely called FJC and was one time a speaker of the National Assembly, to put their house in order when he applied for an adjournment of the case.
Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay was on 8th of March, 2019, charged with interfering with information or witnesses, contrary to Section 36(a) of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission Act, Laws of The Gambia 2017. She denied the allegation.
When the case was called, ASP Manga rose and told the court that he was representing the Inspector General of Police. Defence Counsel L. S. Camara stood up and said that he was representing the accused along with K. Jallow.
ASP Manga then rose again and said unfortunately they wanted to apologise that they could not proceed with the case. He stated that investigation is ongoing, and that the accused might be jointly charged with Yankuba Touray. He further told the court that they felt that they advise themselves to consolidate the two cases and prosecute them as one. He therefore craved the indulgence of the court for an adjournment.
Lawyer Lamin S. Camara rose and said that they were not objecting for now and they wanted to make themselves clear. He argued that the case was adjourned for hearing, noting that his expectation was that the first prosecution witness would be called to proceed with the matter.
He stated that they indulged the state one more time, and by the next adjourned date, if the prosecution fails to proceed, they would apply for the case to be struck out and the accused be discharged. He disclosed that the accused is an international consultant and makes her living from the consultancy. “It would not be fair to tie her down in a stalled case,” he told the court.
The presiding magistrate subsequently adjourned the case to the 22nd March, 2019.
Prosecutors alleged that within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court of the Republic of The Gambia, with intent to obstruct or interfere with the work of the TRRC, the accused called Alagie Kanyi, a potential TRRC witness, through her mobile phone and told him that he should not mind the commission, which act suggests or amounts to interfering with the work of the commission in the discharge of its functions.