By: Nicholas Bass
Appearing before Justice Sarah Aryee of Banjul High Court, on Tuesday defence counsel I K. Jallow, representing three judiciary officers, accused of tampering 52 blocks of cocaine at Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, strongly objected to the admissibility of the cautionary and voluntary statements of the second accused, Ridwan Othman.
Defence counsel Jallow’s objection to the admissibility of Othman’s statements came up following Dodou Ndom’s [pw8] testimony, alleging that the statements of Othman were taken in the presence of Fabakary Keiteh an independent witness.
However, the defence counsel Jallow adduced that the independent witness, Keiteh, was not present at the time the statements of Othman was taking, adding that the independent witness came after the statements of the accused, Othman was recorded.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, A.M. Yusuf strongly stated that the defence counsel misconceived the relevant law provisions of extra-judiciary statements, adding that the defence counsel’s submission was unfounded.
‘’My Lady, the objection is misconceived and unfounded,’’ DPP said.
The lead state prosecuting officer DPP Yusuf, deduced that when the second accused, Othman was asked to react to accusation, he disagreed with the charges pressed against him.
Defence counsel Jallow noted that the law empowers Othman to write his own statements at ‘’his liberty’’.
The Director of Public Prosecutions A.M.
Yusuf, maintained that the defence counsel had an ‘’ill conceived ‘’ knowledge pertaining to the cautionary and voluntary statements of the second accused Othman.
The court records read that magistrate Ebrima Janko Colley and former principal registrar of Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, Ridwan Othman are facing charges of conspiracy to commit a felony, theft, dealing in prohibited drugs, fraud and breach of trust whilst former court clerk of magistrate Colley, Mariama Jankeh Tamba on a separate charge is tried on neglect of official duty.
