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Momodou
Denmark
11823 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Jan 2010 : 20:12:57
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The Case of the Judges and others
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr. Richard Chenge on Friday, 15 January, told the Banjul Magistrates’ Court that the criminal charges against the judicial staff would be reconsidered and that the State many drop charges against some.
Appearing before Principal Magistrate Emmanuel Nkea, DPP Chenge said they have received the auditors’ report concerning the case, but added that they are yet to write their opinion and to decide who would be charged. Mr. Chenge said that those that are involved in the scandal would be charged and those that are not would be freed. He added that there may be some who might be used as witnesses. He therefore applied for the case to be adjourned till Friday, 22 January, to enable the State decide who to charge and who to be used as witness.
The leading defence counsel, Mr. Antouman Gaye, did not object to the DPP’s application for an adjournment. He stated that he hoped that his client would be among those that are to be freed of the charges.
The DPP rose again and told the court that without wasting the court’s time, they should adjourn all the other separate but connected judicial cases till the same date.
Magistrate Nkea adjourned all the cases till Friday 22 January for mention.
All the accused persons were present in court, but it was only Justice Amina Saho Ceesay who entered the box for her case. She is charged with stealing by clerk or servant contrary to section 258 of the Criminal Code. She is accused of stealing D2 million (dalasi) and one Thousand Dollars, between the years 2005 to 2009, at the Sheriff’s Division of the High Court.
Mrs. Justice Nguie Mboob Janneh, also an accused person, was in court. She is charged with stealing D803, 000 and 900 pound Sterling.
Mr. Haruna Jaiteh, the former Judicial Secretary, is charged with stealing D1,117,000. Two other former judicial staff namely, Mr. Pa Modou Njie and Mr. Sonko, also charged, were both in court.
Editorial Note
It is still interesting that the Judges were not subjected to impeachment procedures by the National Assembly to determine whether they are culpable of misconduct or not before appearing before a subordinate court. Now the State is saying that some of them could even be freed. Does this not justify the need to have placed the matter in the hands of the National Assembly and a tribunal be set up to decide whether they should retain their offices as judges first before subjecting them to any further criminal proceedings.? This is Foroyaa’s opinion, anyway. What is yours?
Source: Foroyaa
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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