Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh, the presiding magistrate in the Babylon case at the Brikama Magistrate Court, has given orders to the Inspector General of Police to arrest Abdou Colley, one of the alleged attackers, who is said to be at large.

The magistrate made this order on 9 March, 2009. Abdou Colley is alleged to be among those who mobilized the mob to attack Babylon on 30 March last year, but managed to escape arrest, and since then his whereabouts have not been established. The case kicked-off properly on Monday with the prosecution’s first witness, Lamin Jarju, giving evidence.

He told the court that on 29 March w008, he received information that some people in Makumbayaa and Kerewan were planning to attack Babylon. He said when he received that information, he reported the matter to the Yundum Police Station and the Military Barracks.  According to him, personnel from both post came to Babylon immediately and spent the whole night there waiting but the attackers did not turn up on that day. He said the following morning, when the officers had already left, the mob came around 9 am and started destroying and setting fire to cars and other properties.

Lamin Jarju said he contacted the security personnel who responded quickly and made several arrests. He said during the attack he advised his people not to retaliate, as that would only aggravate the situation. At that juncture, the case was tentatively adjourned to 16 and 18 March, as the senior defense counsel, Antouman Gaye, was not in court. Before adjourning the case, Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh assured the accused persons that he would give priority to their case in order to see it expedited.