This paper has gathered from authorities sources that the state has withdrawn criminal charges against Mahmoud Wally Hakim, a suspect in the murder of Deyda Hydara, The Point’s Managing Editor.

The case, which was before Justice Monageng of the High Court, was withdrawn on 9th November 2006.

Wally Hakim was first arraigned before Magistrate Moses Richard of the Bundung Magistrates’ Court from where the case was transferred to the High Court.

At the last sitting on the case, the defense counsel, Lawyer SB Janneh, said that since the matter was transferred to the High Court, no progress has been made towards its final decision. He therefore submitted that it is apt for him to say that the state has no case against his client and that if the state is not prepared to proceed with the matter, he would apply for the case to be struck out. He added that the situation borders on injustice and that it is time to do something definitive.

In the sitting before the last one the state counsel, A.S. Umor, had applied for one more adjournment, saying that the state was still unable to produce its witness.

It would be recalled that Mr. Hakim was charged on two counts, possession and importation of fire arms. The particulars of offence in Count 1 state that Wally Hakim was on 17th February 2005, in Kerr Serign, found in possession of fire arms without proper authority. In Count 2, they state that Wally Hakim imported into The Gambia fire arms without an import license duty granted by the prescribed authority contrary to section 8 of the Arms and Ammunition act.

Following the state’s withdrawal of the case against him, Mr. Hakim was said to have been discharged accordingly by the court.