As the battle to secure the release of Ousman Jatta alias Rambo and Kanyiba Kanyi continued at the High Court, their counsel made a contempt application against the NIA Director-General and the IGP.

Lawyer Ousainou Darboe yesterday applied for contempt of proceedings before the presiding judge, Justice Monageng, against the NIA Director-General and the Inspector-General of Police, demanding their appearance in court to explain why they have not complied with the law.

Lawyer Darboe argued that the applicants have not been charged with any offence, adding that the respondents’ decision to keep the applicants in custody since September 2006 without charging them borders on arrogance. He said he had evidence that the applicants were in the custody of the Gambia government and therefore urged the court to grant his application.

For her part the state counsel, Lawyer Jones, said she had difficulty to react to the application because she had not been briefed by the DPP with regard to the case.
The court finally granted the application and adjourned the case to 16th July 2007.

It could be recalled that the High Court on two occasions made an order for the release of the two, Ousman Jatta and Kanyiba Kanyi, who were believed to have been detained at various places across the country since their arrest in September 2006.