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Update on GAMCOTRAP Court Hearing
Thursday, 31 March 2011 23:13
28th March 2011: Lack of Fula Interpreter delays hearingJollofNews - Since the testimony of the Director of Yolocamba Solidaridad on the allegation of theft case against two GAMCOTRAP officials Dr. Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang-Sissoho no witness has testified. Appearing at the Banjul Magistrate court on Monday, 28th March 2011, before Principal Magistrate Alagde, the Prosecution Officer, Superintendent Sainey Joof announced the presences of one witness instead of four as announced at the previous seating. The Prosecution witness, Mariama Sumura one of the celebrated
Ex-Circumcisers trained by GAMCOTRAP was called to the box. The court was at standstill when it was realized that the witness could only speak Fula. According to Prosecution Officer, Superintendent Joof, he met the witness that morning and realized she could only speak Fula. Magistrate Alagde asked for volunteers from the court room but none was forthcoming. In responding to what can be done, Defense Counsel Amie Bensouda who as supported by Lawyers Lamin Mboge and Ebrima Jah told the Court that the Defense is at the mercy of the court and the Prosecution. She added “I think the Prosecution should have known and arranged for a translator. My lord the Prosecution should close its case because according to the statement of the witness we received, it is not different from what the other women said. We should stop wasting each other’s time.” She further reminded the Magistrate that six other women have been brought in as witnesses and the information is not different. The prosecution was asked to call in one of the other three witnesses to save time while arrangements are made to get a Fula translator. The prosecution said Mariama Samura was the only one available and came all the way from Basse and appealed for efforts to be made to get her to testify.
Magistrate Alagde adjourned the hearing until later in the afternoon at 2:00PM.
The confused looking witnessed called on Amie Bojang-Sissoho to find out what happened because people were dispersing and nobody gave her any explanation. She was informed about the adjournment.
Upon returning for the hearing in the afternoon, one of the defense counsel team members, Lamin Mboge of Maribantang Chambers informed the accused that the Magistrate has called the Court clerk to inform the court that the case has been adjourned because there was no Fula translator. The next hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, 20th April 2011, at 10:00 AM.
It could be noticed that the witness had a breastfeeding baby with her. Amongst the crowd in the packed court room were Board Members of the Inter Africa Committee on Traditional Practices of which Dr. Isatou Touray is the Secretary General.
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