Justice Moses Richards Tasked The State

Justice Moses Richards of the Special Criminal Court Division of the High Court yesterday ordered the Registrar and Master of the High Court, to make necessary arraignments to provide the accused persons with legal representation.

This decision came following the accused persons’ unsuccessful attempts to secure a counsel of their choice. The accused person informed the court that they were unable to get a legal representation of their choice.

Only the 13th accused person, Kebba Seckan got a legal representation.

According to Justice Richards, if the accused persons want to know their fate at the shortest possible time, they should try and have their own legal representation. He stressed that it would not be easy for the state to provide them with a legal representation. As he put it, it would take time to do so.

Alasan Thomas Jarju, Maulud Badjie, Lasana Prosper Sambou, Ousman Jarju, Mansur Jatta, Sedat Jatta, Sedat Jatta, Fabia Nyafuneh, Pap Ousman Badjie, Abdoulie Jatta, Muminu Bah and Abdoulie Jarju, are all Senegalese, while Samsideen Jammeh, Kebba Secka, Kemo Conteh and Sam Kambai, are all Gambians charged under Section 3(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002.

The particulars of the offence states that Alasan Thomas Jarju and 14 others on or about 8th August 2006, at Dasilameh and diverse places, jointly conducted or engaged themselves in an unlawful act, which may seriously destabilised or destroyed the fundamental, political, constitutional, economic and social structure of The Gambia.

The case was adjourned to 24th September 2009.