The state prosecutor, Olimatou Danso yesterday applied for another adjournment in the trial of Baboucarr Jarju and Swandi Camara, who are alleged to have kidnapped Mahawa Cham, a former lawmaker for the purpose of murder.
When the case was mentioned before Justice Odomo of the High Court, the state prosecutor applied for a short adjournment to enable her prepare and file indictment against the accused persons before the next adjourned date.
According to the state counsel, the case was inherited from the police prosecutors and they are reviewing it so as to enable them to study the criminal liability of the accused persons, arguing that they will file the indictment before the next adjourned date.
Though the accused were unrepresented by a lawyer but the 1st accused, Baboucarr Jarju intimated to the court through a relative that he has paid half of legal fees in order to be represented by a lawyer.
They however appealed to the court to be granted bail because they have been languishing in remand for five months now and nothing has been done.
The trial judge accordingly granted the prayers of the prosecutor but ordered her to file the indictment together with the list of the prosecution witnesses before adjourning the case to June 20.
Baboucarr Jarju and Swandi Camara are being tried on charges of kidnapping for the purpose of murder, conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretense. They are alleged to have kidnapped Mahawa Cham, a former APRC lawmaker from Senegal and brought him to The Gambia where he and one Sulayman Ndow are believed to have been murdered.
The duo however denied any responsibility since the day they were arraigned before a Magistrates Court in Banjul.
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