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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Jan 2010 : 21:46:54
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I knew things were bad but 9 years without any form of Justice,shocking,a disgrace,to the administration, The magistrates who have had anything to do with the defendant,Those in Charge of the Prison Service,the Member for the National assembly, past and present where the accused was held,ALL of these people should hang their heads in shame.AT LAST riding an his white horse and showing great compassion, not a knight in shining armour but a quietly spoken non assuming gentleman. You need not ask if you have been here on bantaba for any length of time.One of the Greatest Gambians... Judge Moses Richards.
This from The Point:
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
After nine years in remand custody, Sarjo Jarra, alias Pa Jarra, who was accused of rape, on Tuesday 19th January 2010 appeared before Justice Moses Richards of the Special Criminal Court of the High Court in Banjul.
When asked by the presiding judge, Justice Richard, how many years he has spent in remand custody at Mile 2, the man said he has been there since 2000. He told the court that since then only two witnesses were called to testify in his case.
Still responding to Justice Richards' questions, the accused said: "I had been arraigned before many judges including Justice M.A. Paul, H Rose, Justice Joseph Wowo at the Basse High Court in the Upper River Region and today Justice Moses Richards."
This development occurred on Monday when Justice Richards was presiding over a case, in which the accused Pa Jarra's name was mentioned, but the accused person was not in court. The judge ordered the prison officers to bring him (Pa Jarra) before him.
Justice Richards told the court that his enquiry from the prison authorities revealed that the said Pa Jarra has been in detention for nine years, and that many judges sat over the case, but it could not proceed to conclusion.
Justice Richards later called the attention of the princinpal registrar at the High Court, Abdou Conteh, and asked him to ascertain whether this particular case file is in the registry.
The judge also instructed Mr Conteh to take the accused to his office and listen to him carefully to explain what had transpired.
He further ordered Conteh to take the accused to the Chief Justice's office to further explain his case.
This long detention of the accused prompted lawyers A. Martin and Lamin S. Camara to voluntarily undertake to defend Pa Jarra if there is going to be any further prosecution of his case.
Assan Martin, a human rights lawyer, told the court that he even took it upon himself to visit the man at the remand wing at Mile 2 Prison to enquire about his case.
Author: Sainey MK Marenah
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 20 Jan 2010 21:47:47 |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2010 : 22:36:50
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As no one appears to be concerned with the life of this man on bantaba in cyberspace here is another article outlining the facts,this time from a different online newspaper,come on folks post something here, TWO Pa Jarra s awaiting appearence before the same Judge ? sounds very unlikely to me,but could be as the papers contained a photograph of the accused,if that is right,I wonder if the papers for the Pa Jarra who did appear will ever be discovered ? What do you think?
FOROYAA Online - Educating the People.
Justice Richards Puts his foot down over Detention of Accused For 9 Years
National News
Written by: Fabakary B. Ceesay
Published on: 22-01-10
One Sarjo Jarra (alias Pa Jarra), who has been in State custody at the Remand Wing of the Mile 2
Prison for 9 years, on Tuesday appeared before Justice Moses Richards of the Banjul High Court.
Pa Jarra was mistakenly arraigned before the Court in light of the fact that the Prison Wardens
mistook him for another Pa Jarra who has a case to answer before Justice Richards.
On Monday, 18th January, Justice Richards ordered for the prison authorities to bring in court one Pa
Jarra, whose passport size photo was attached to his case file. On Tuesday, 19th January 2010,
prison wardens brought an old man called Pa Jarra, who has been in their custody for years now
without his case proceeding. When Justice Richards showed the Remanded prisoner a photo
attached to the case file of the person who should appear before him and asked whether it is him
(Jarra), the old man responded that the photo is not him. The prison warden, however, told the Court
that he is the only Pa Jarra in their custody.
When Justice Richards asked him how long he has been in custody, Jarra told the Court that he was
arrested in August 2000, on allegation of rape. He said since then only two witnesses have testified
in his trial. He said he was arraigned in Basse and in Banjul on the charges of rape. He said he could
recall that he was being tried before Justice Paul, Justice Haddy Roche, Justice Dordzie and lately
Justice Wowo of the High Court. He added that so far he did not enter the box to give evidence.
Both Lawyers Lamin S. Camara and Assan Martin raised their concern on the violation of the
fundamental rights of the old man. Camara said he was aware of the case at Basse where only two
witnesses gave evidence in the trial. He told the Court that he would personally take up the case to
defend him without any cost.
Lawyer Martin said he heard about the dilemma of the old man and that he is willing to sacrifice to
defend him. Martin said the case has not progressed before Justice Wowo for almost six months
now. He said he has decided to consult Justice Wowo in chamber on the case of the old Malian.
Justice Richards said he is a man of justice and cannot stand and watch the old man to continue to
be incarcerated in detention. He ordered the principal registrar to take note of Jarra’s concerns and
forward it to the office of the Chief Justice. He stated that he would even give advise to urge the
Chief Justice to use his judicial powers to release Jarra from detention.
Lawyer Lamin Jobarteh also added his voice on the issue in support of the old man.
He added that it would be more helpful if the case file is also forwarded to enable the Chief Justice
to fully understand the whole case.
Justice Richards agreed with him and ordered that the case file be taken to the Chief Justice.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 22 Jan 2010 22:38:18 |
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monday
43 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jan 2010 : 01:24:08
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| I am lose. This is unspeakable |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jan 2010 : 10:15:34
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So is the man now free or is the case still continuting.
It should be thrown out of court, he should be immediately freed and he should be able to claim compensation for the years spent in prison.
No one is safe whilst terrible injustices like this are allowed to continue. |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jan 2010 : 10:40:09
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I have seen no notification anywhere that he has been freed,a quote in the newspaper above reads:
"He ordered the principal registrar to take note of Jarra’s concerns and
forward it to the office of the Chief Justice. He stated that he would even give advise to urge the
Chief Justice to use his judicial powers to release Jarra from detention.
Lawyer Lamin Jobarteh also added his voice on the issue in support of the old man."
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2010 : 00:57:00
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After nine years without trial Pa Jarra should be freed!
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2010 : 11:32:29
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Thanks for your input sister Omega,I hope that he is freed very soon,I have the feeling that the "mistake" allowing the "wrong" defendant to appear before Judge Moses Richards was deliberately taken by "someone" at Mile Two in order that "Sarjo Jarra, alias Pa Jarra" could appear before The Special Criminal Court in order that his case could "be dealt with" otherwise this defendant would have been forgotten maybe forever.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
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