Posted by By Dawda Faye
State Counsel A. M. Yusuf in the case involving Yankuba Touray and Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay, who were charged with interfering with an informant or a witness, on the 29th May, 2019, announced before Justice Amina Saho-Ceesay of the High Court in Banjul that the state would call their second witness, one Mr. Dibba, a student at the UTG who is on an exam. He said that because of his exam, he could not appear in court. He subsequently applied for an adjournment.
This followed a ruling by the judge in favour of the prosecution when earlier Lawyer Lamin S. Camara, who was representing Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay, objected that the question asked in the re-examination of the prosecution witness , Alagie Kanyi, by the state counsel as to when the witness was first called by the TRRC. Counsel Camara argued that there was no ambiguity in the evidence given by the witness but the state counsel disagreed with him and an argument ensued between them which warranted the judge to make a ruling.
When the case resumed on the 29th May, 2019, the state counsel then asked the witness the same question and he answered that he was first called by the TRRC in December, 2018. The state counsel then applied for an adjournment to call his second witness, and his application was granted.
When the case was called, Lawyer Sissoho announced his representation for Yankuba Touray and Counsel A. Fatty held brief for Lawyer Lamin S. Camara on behalf of Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay.
The case was adjourned to the 12th June, 2019, for continuation.
In another development, Defense Counsel Mene, in the case involving Yankuba Badjie and other former NIA officers, announced on the 29th May, 2019, before Justice Kumba Silla-Camara of the High Court in Banjul that the defense had withdrawn the no-case submission they filed on behalf of the first accused, Yankuba Badjie. He applied to the court for the prosecution to provide the defense with the statements of some witnesses who have not yet testified.
The lead counsel in the prosecution team, Lawyer Antouman Gaye, rose and said that Counsel Mene should make a formal application, and the judge concurred with him and ordered Counsel Mene to make a formal application.
The counsel representing Sheikh Omar Jeng, the third accused, intends to file a no-case submission on behalf of his client.
Hearing continues on the 17th June, 2019.