Following the prosecution’s closure of its case in the trial of Momodou Njie, former deputy Permanent Secretary at Forestry and Environment, the defence on Tuesday informed the court of its decision to make a no-case to answer submission.

Mr Njie is being tried before the Bundung Magistrates’ Court presided over by Senior Magistrate Kumba Sillah-Camara for the offence of impersonation.

In his submission, defence counsel Lamin Camara submitted that prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against the accused person. He argued that the prosecution’s evidence did not in anyway link the accused to the offence, adding that no competent court could rely on the evidence of the prosecution in the matter in question. He further told the court that the offence was not proven by the prosecution.

Lawyer Camara further submitted that the evidence of the prosecution instead showed that the accused was a deputy Permanent Secretary and that they had had a drink with him at Paparazzi bar. He finally urged the court to uphold the no-case submission and acquit and discharge the accused.

Responding to the defence’s submission, the police prosecutor, ASP Bojang, told the court that the prosecution had in fact proven a prima facie case against the accused, adding that the prosecution had called two competent witnesses. He urged the court to overrule the no-case submission of the defence and called on the accused to enter in to his defence.

The case at length adjourned to 8th July for ruling.