The trial of Abdoulie Saine resumes at the Banjul Magistrate’s court today following an adjournment last week. When the case was called up last week, the lead prosecutor Superintendent M.B. Mballow made an application for adjournment of the case on the grounds that he was informed by the Director of Public Prosecutor (DPP), that the said file at the AG’s Chamber was under review.
Superintendent Mballow said the adjournment was in the interest of justice and will contribute towards the development of jurisprudence that prosecution shall not be conducted without proper guidance from the AG, which is constitutional as the chief legal adviser.” Defence counsel, Moses Richard, said the record indicated that on September 26, a similar application was made by the prosecution and the defence didn’t object to it.
He cited Chapter IV of the 1997 that the accused person has a right to be tried within a reasonable time. He said expediency cannot be an expense of justice and it is equally the law that justice delay is justice denied.
The presiding magistrate said it is the duty of the prosecution to put its house in order before coming to the court. It could be recalled that the former National Assembly member for Banjul Central, Abdoulie Saine (Lai Saine) is standing trial on two counts of incitement of violence and seditious intention, charges which he has pleaded not guilty to.