Making his application before Magistrate Nyima Samateh, Abdourahman Bah said the witness was an officer of the NIA and urged that his evidence be heard in camera. “Though the accused is guaranteed the right to be tried in an open court, the state can derogate these rights in the interest of public safety, morality and defence,” Bah said.
However, his application could not be granted as the lawyer for Buba Beyai was not in court. Mr Beyai said his lawyer was engaged elsewhere. This was confirmed by the magistrate. She said the court received a letter from Mr Beyai’s lawyer that he was engaged in another court.
In the letter, Lawyer Lamin Mboge asked for a stand down but the state counsel urged the court to adjourn the matter. The case resumes tomorrow for Mr Beyai’s lawyer to reply to the state prosecutor’s application.
Mr Beyai is facing a single count of publishing false news. He is accused of negligently publishing through a telephone call to one Bakary Dahaba in April that the director general of NIA was dismissed from his position, information he knew to be false. He pleaded not guilty.
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