Twelve men have been arraigned before the Basse Magistrate Court for obstructing officers of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG) and caused willful damage of a State property (operational vehicle) and grievous bodily harm to a suspect in custody.
The accused included Dembo Camara, Ebrima Sabally, Modou Faye, Momodou Jabbi, Musa Camara, Abdou Sowe, Samba Barry, Yankuba Sowe, Amadou Krubally, Bakary Sanyang, Kanja Sowe and Abdou Barry.
The 12 accused were arraigned at the Basse Magistrate Court charged for obstruction pursuant to section 70 (4) (a) of the DCA 2003.
As reported by the DLEAG, when the case was mentioned in court on Monday, 21st March 2022, the Magistrate issued an order for eleven (11) of the accused to be remanded. One of the accused, Abdou Barry indicated that he does not know his age and as such, the court ordered for an age determination test to be conducted in order to determine his age. This will guide subsequent proceedings regarding whether he should be tried as an adult or an Alleged Child Offender (ACO).
“The suspects will also be charged with joint possession of prohibited drug contrary to section 35 (2) of the DCA 2003 after weighment and analysis of the said suspected quantities of cannabis sativa found in the immediate vicinity of the compound where they were found openly abusing drugs,” stated in DLEAG’s statement.
Meanwhile, the matter has also been referred to The Gambia Police Force for appropriate actions regarding the wilful damage to property and assault causing grievous bodily harm to Sainey Krubally the suspect who was in custody. Depending on the outcome of the investigations and findings thereof, charges can be amended accordingly.
