Defence Raises Objection

The Defense Counsel in the ongoing false information case involving one Awa Trawally, a former employee of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) has raised an objection pertaining to the charge sheet of the accused.

Senior Counsel Antouman Gaye last Wednesday told the court that he observed some irregularities on the charge sheet his client was served with. He submitted that they had first been served with the charge sheet containing eight counts, only to be later served with another charge sheet with seven counts.

Antuman Gaye further submitted that he was applying for an adjournment to enable him study the new charge sheet. But the court then asked the charge sheet to be read, which was done.

Consequently, Counsel Gaye objected to all the charges which, according to him, contain irregularities, except on count one and six, on which plea of not guilty was taken.

He further submitted that there was an amendment in the Criminal Procedure Code that an objection to a charge must be taken before a plea is taken.

He cited CPC Amendment 2001 (161) (A) to back-up his argument.

At that juncture, the trial magistrate, E.A. Nkea adjourned the case to 25th September 2009, for ruling on the preliminary objection.