Senior magistrate Kayode Olajubutu of the Banjul Magistrates Court has given until March 17 for police prosecutor, Inspector Touray of the Banjul Prosecution Unit to proceed with the theft charged filed against Supt Manlafi Sanyang, the former head of Vehicles Control Unit at State House. The magistrate threatened to strike out the case if the prosecution failed to show diligence.

“Where you charged an accused person, that means you have finished your investigations and are ready to proceed with the  case. You charged an accused person and don’t proceed with the case and keep the accused in custody,” the senior magistrate charged, while responding to submissions on theft charges by both the defence counsel, Lamin Camara and police prosecutor Inspector Touray.

When the case was called, Inspector Touray applied for a short adjournment on the ground that the case file is still at the AG Chambers, awaiting for the advice of the Chambers.

Defence counsel Camara objected to the prosecutions request, arguing that the prosecutor either proceeds with the case or the court to strikes it out for lack of diligent prosecution.

“My client has been in custody for a long time and yet the prosecution cannot proceed on the case. The case was adjourned on several occasions. The case was adjourned for today and yet the prosecution is asking for another adjournment. It is my submission that the court strike out the case for lack of diligent prosecution”, he said.

Emmanuel Fagbenle, the director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) acknowledged the case file being in possession of the AG Chambers and promised to hand over the file to the prosecution precisely over the weekend.

Senior magistrate Kayode then adjourned the case to March 17.