By: Kemo Kanyi
The Principal Magistrate of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court, Fatou Darboe-Jaguraga, last week ordered the remand in custody of one Abdoulie Sowe following his denial of criminal responsibility for the murder of one Alasana Bah.
Abdoulie was arraigned on Wednesday on the allegation of causing Alasana’s death by chopping him with a cutlass all over his body. The incident, according to the prosecution, happened at Omorto village in the West Coast Region on 13 August 2024.
Following the suspect’s guilty plea after the charge against him was read out to him, prosecuting officer Superintendent Buteh Sawaneh applied for the transfer of the case based on legal notice no. 3 of 2009, which established the Special Criminal Division at the High Court to exclusively deal with capital offenses as provided under Section 143 (1) of the 1997 Constitution.
“Accordingly, since the offence is murder and equally not bailable pursuant to Section 99 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, I am applying that the case be transferred to the Special Criminal Division of the High Court pursuant to section 62 of the CPC, and the accused be remanded under Section 208 of the CPC, pending arraignment before the high court,” Superintendent Sawaneh stated.
The prosecution’s application was granted and the court issued an order for the suspect to be remanded in custody at Mile II, pending his high court appearance.