Six people were yesterday, Tuesday 26th August 2008, arraigned at the Bansang Magistrates’ Court for allegedly murdering the Imam of Kuntaur, Amadou Jallow.

Bana Sillah, Abdou Kadir Sillah, Kadjatou Conteh, Bala Musa Conteh, Kebba Sawaneh and Amadou Gai are formally charged with two counts of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to commit murder. They have denied both charges.

The particulars of the offence indicated that the accused persons on or about the 16th June 2008 at the Kuntaur Wharf Town in Niani District, CRR North conspired and murdered Amadou Jallow, then the Imam of Kuntaur.

However, the presiding magistrate, Travelling Magistrate Amadou Baldeh transferred the case to the High Court.

Meanwhile the accused persons will remain in custody pending the outcome at the High Court.

It will be recalled that the Late Imam was attacked and murdered at his residence in the early hours of the 16th June 2008 while on the verge of going to lead prayers at the mosque.

A resident of Wellingara, Alieu Saidykhan, is now awaiting trial for allegedly fracturing the hand of one Musa Jarju.

Alieu is alleged to have fractured Jarju’s hand after having grown suspicious that his mobile phone had been stolen by Jarju.

His case will now go to a full trial following his denial of the charge leveled against him.

Alieu had invited Jarju to his compound, locked the compound gate and twisted his hand to an extent that it broke, the particulars of the offence say.

The case, to be presided over by Magistrate Kumba Sillah-Camara, is expected to resume on the 25th of July 2008.

The section under which the accused was charged carries a maximum sentence of two if found guilty whereas the accused was reportedly arrested on 18th February 2006 and taken into custody.

He was taken to court on 14th February 2008 before Justice Naceesay Salla-Wadda of the Banjul High Court, charged with negligence to prevent felony.

According to the particulars of the offence, the accused on 16th February 2006 in Sukuta Sanchaba, knowing that Khalifa Saidy had inflicted bodily harm on one Muhammed Drammeh, now deceased, failed to take reasonable steps to prevent further injuries but unlawfully assisted in dumping the body on the high way, thereby committed an offence.

He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced for the period he had already spent while in remand custody. The sentence also bound him to keep the peace and to be of good behaviour.

The Guinean lady, who allegedly caused the death of her newly born baby, on Monday made disturbing revelations at the Bundung Magistrates’ Court as her trial over infanticide continues.

Jainaba Jallow, currently in detention at the State Central Prison in Banjul, told the court that she has been driven away by her husband after the two had a misunderstanding and, at a time when she was pregnant.

“After being driven out of the house, I got a house in Sanchaba Sulay Jobe to dwell in until such time I could gather some money to go back to Guinea to deliver as I had no relative in The Gambia,” she recalled.

“But during the struggle to gather money to go back to Guinea, I had a problem with my stomach which reflected on the foetus. On 18 February 2008, my stomach began to pain but my plea for help wasn’t heeded. I struggled with the foetus until I gave birth but the child was born still. I notified my landlord who later reported the matter to Bakoteh police station.”

The case continues on 13 May 2008.

The 95 people, who allegedly went on the rampage in Babylon demolishing structures and setting houses on fire, were yesterday paraded at the courtyard of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court as their case resumed for continuation.

The 95 were some time last month arrested by security agents and subsequently charged with alleged offences of being armed in public, arson and conspiracy to commit a felony.

On the resumption of the case on Tuesday, the counsel for the accused persons, Antouman Gaye, subjected the ‘self-styled’ Alkalo of Babylon to a rigorous cross-examination. During the cross-examination, the reported self-acclaimed Alkalo of Babylon, Lamin Jarju, maintained that he was the Alkalo of Babylon and that he had demarcated plots of land but did not sell any. Jarju also admitted, under cross-examination, that he was filling forms using his own stamp as the Alkalo of Babylon.

Still cross-examining Jarju, counsel Gaye put it to him that he was the ‘biggest’ troublemaker in the land and that he was once taken to Campama mental home by  former Chief  Eric Tunde Janneh for head-reading. Jarju had accepted that he was once taken to Campama for mental test but denied Counsel Gaye’s assertions that he was once taken to Mile II by Eric Tunde.

“How many times have you been taken to the NIA?” asked lawyer Gaye. “Once,” replied Jarju. “I’m putting it to you that you’ve been taken to NIA for more than once,” asserted Gaye.

When put to him that he was mostly involved in land issues, Jarju replied in the negative.

When further asked whether he was not a one-time soldier of the Gambia National Army now re-baptised the Gambia Armed Force, Jarju responded in the positive but denied that he was dismissed from the force.

“I’m putting it to you that you were dismissed from the army,” posited Gaye. “No,” replied Jarju.

Asked as to how many freelance guards he had, Jarju said he had many private guards with a non-Gambian in the person of one Tony Bellia. He said the private guards were in Babylon to safeguard lives and property. But Gaye put it to him that he was not speaking the truth.

The case continues today.      

The trial of Musa Njie and nine others recently resumed before Magistrate John Njie but could not proceed as the prosecution officer was not in court. The case will now resume on March 28th.

It will be recalled that Musa Njie and the co-accused have been charged with the alleged offence of causing unlawful and willful damage to properties. They’re now awaiting trial for demolishing the houses of one Isatou Badjie, Katim Lowe, Modou Sawaneh, Abdoulie Sankareh, Aji Camara and Sam Pierre Mendy. The houses, located at Gidda in Kombo East, were valued at D35,974.00.

Joseph Giana an employee of African Gaming Company was on Monday arraigned before Principal Magistrate Buba Jawo of the Kanifing Magistrates court for allegedly stealing D94,000 from the company last month .

When the charge was read to him, Mr Giana pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him. However, Principal Magistrate Jawo granted him bail in the sum of D100,000 plus a Gambian surety. Subsequently, the case was adjourned to 25th February 2008 for hearing.

Senior Magistrate Abdoulie Mbacke of the Kanifing magistrate court on Monday warned that he will revoked the bail of the Gacem theft suspects should they fail to appear before the court on the next adjourned date.

He stressed that he will not hesitate to send the accused to the State central prison until the outcome of the case, if they fail to apear in court again.

Magistrate Mbacke remark’s followed the absence of the accused persons Joseph Mendy, Samba Jallow Alhagie Fofana and Musa Camara in court.

The accused persons are standing trial for allegedly stealing 46 bags of cements valued at D9,660 while working as employees of the said company in August 2007.