By Amadou M Jadama
At least 14 people, three of them minors who recently attacked Brikama Police Station demanding to met out mob justice on the initial murder suspects detained there, were Monday charged with two counts of punishment for malicious injuries in general and unlawful assembly.
Their lawyer Ayub Johnny Njie made an application for the court to transfer the three minors to the children’s court. In response, police prosecutor Sgt Bobo Jarju objected to the application saying it lacked merit.
However presiding Magistrate Peter Adoh Che, ordered for the matter to be heard in Chambers for the minors to take their plea.
The accused persons are Lamin Badjie, Bolong Ceesay, Omar Bojang, Muhammed Gassama, Malang Conateh, Ousman Bah, Ebrima Drammeh, Alagie Ceesay, Bakary Jammeh, Baboucarr Mbye, Baboucarr Cham and the three minors whose names are withheld.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the indictment, Lamin Badjie and 13 others jointly broke the door and window glasses of Brikama Police Station by stoning and forcefully demanding the release of the murder suspects for them to be killed.
They are also accused of gathering without lawful authority at Brikama Police Station obstructing police officers in executing their lawful duties.
The defence lawyer prayed to the court to grant his clients bail which was opposed by police prosecutor Sergeant Bobo Jarju.
The presiding Magistrate overruled the police prosecutor’s objection and granted them bail in the sum of D5000, 00 each with one Gambian surety, one of whom should deposit his or ID Card to the registrar of the Court.
The matter was then adjourned to 18 June for hearing.
