By Baba Sillah
Defence lawyers representing the nine officials charged with murder of Solo Sandeng have challenged the appointment of Antouman Gaye as the Prosecutor General of the trial.
Barrister Christopher Mene who leads the defence team argued that the appointment of barrister Antouman Gaye along with other senior members of the bar will jeopardize fair hearing and security of the case, citing relevant section of the law to back up his submission.
Mene said he will in due course formally make their application as why they are objecting to the appointment of Mr Gaye and his team.
He appealed to the court to grant him 24hrs to prepare and file his application before the next adjourned date.
However the Prosecutor General Antouman Gaye who announced his appearance for the state alongside lawyers Lamin S Camara, Rachel Y Mendy, Combeh Gaye and Yassin Senghore also informed the court that he will react accordingly after receiving a formal application from the defence team but did not object to the adjournment.
Prosecutor General Gaye further intimated to the court that the defence cannot make joint application since they represent a different party and if they do so they will object to the application.
Prior to the argument and adjournment of the case, State Prosecutor General Gaye informed the trial judge, Justice Kumba Sillah-Camara that he is now appointed as the chief prosecutor in the trial on behalf of the Attorney General and that a fiat was filed on May 26 which he showed to the court.
Justice Kumba Sillah-Camara at that point adjourned the matter to June 5 for mentioning of defence brief.
