The March 13th Mbayen Kambi village arson has now reached the corridors of justice, reports our CRR-based correspondent.

According to a report faxed to this paper yesterday from CRR, Ebrima Jallow, a Guinean, now stands accused of the fire outbreak that razed a house and its contents. His alleged partner in crime was reportedly on the run as we go to press.

Detailing the circumstances surrounding the case, a court scribe told the Kuntaur Wharf Town-based tribunal that Ebrima Jallow had, on 13 March 2008, deliberately set fire the house of a certain Koba Bah of Mbayen Kambi village in Central River Region of The Gambia.

Jallow denies any wrongdoing and, as a result, prosecutor 1260 Colley called in his first witness also the complainant in the case.

In his evidence, led by officer Colley, Koba recalled that the arson occurred on a Monday night when the accused and his friend went to a weekly market (Lumoo) where they were drinking for the whole day.

“At night, they came to my compound and set my house ablaze whilst I was sleeping inside with my five children. As I suffocated, I came out only to see my house on fire. As I rushed out to make distress calls, I saw the accused and his friend holding boxes of matches,” recounted Koba.

Added she:“ The children were rescued with the help of the members of the community but other household items, foodstuffs, clothes and other valuables have been consumed by the fire. I later lodged a complaint to the police in Kuntaur, leading to the arrest of the accused.”

The case, moderated by Travelling Magistrate Amadou Baldeh of the CRR circuit, is expected to continue on 10 July 2008.