Gambia News : $1b Cocaine Trial FailsTo Proceed Again
Jul 17,2010 00:00
by
lamin
The 1 Billion dollar cocaine trial involving 12 foreign nationals could not proceed yesterday at the narcotic court of the Banjul Magistrates' Court before magistrate Hilary Abeke, as the accused were not present in court.When the case was called yesterday for mention, while the accused were not present, the trial magistrate, Hilary Abeke noted that the case could not proceed as the accused persons were not in court.
At that point, Lawyer Emmanuel Chime stood up to pronounce his appearance for the first accused and later enquired the reason{s} behind the absence of the accused persons in court.
The state counsel, NB Jones then subsequently stood up to pronounce her representation for the state. While Lawyer Chime stated that he had no person to represent as at that particular time but he was appearing for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th accused and together with Lawyer Uzoma for the 1st and 4th accused if they happen to be in court. While Lawyer Lamin S Camara pronounced his appearance for the rest of the accused persons.
According to the state counsel, she was surprised that the accused persons were not in court yesterday because on the last adjourned date the officers who brought them to court were in court through out the proceedings and were also aware of the date of the adjournment.
"In our practice as prosecutors we do not specifically request from where the accused persons are detained for them to be brought to court especially in this case which the officers were present in court throughout the proceeding. I would have undertaken to insist that they should be in court today. I am sure that on the next adjournment date the prosecution will make sure the accused persons are in court," said the state counsel.
"We have no objection and feel sorry for the state counsel’s predicament and helpless condition, but it is right and mandatory to the court for the accused persons to be present in court and we are not opposing the adjournment of the case," submitted Lawyer Chime and Lawyer Camara.
The trial magistrate after listening to both parties adjourned the case to 21st July 2010 for mention at 2pm.
Memunatu Sesay, Fernando Varela, Barset Goodwin, Ephraim Michael Chiduben, Juan Carlos Diaz, Louis Dose Fermin, Esteaban Zavala , George Sanchez, Rudy Rasoehamid Gazi and Dennis Wilgo Winter are charge with three count charge of conspiracy to commit an offence, dealing in prohibited drugs for the purpose of supply by retail or wholesale, and the transport and or transfer, and possession of prohibited drugs for the purpose of drug trafficking.
However, they denied the allegation.