VERY GOOD POINT Beran! --- Beran jeng <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Annika, > > I share your summary that the government does not > have convincing > evidence to prosecute the case , but i'm not of the > view that the government > is embarrassed because it simmply does not exist in > the government's > vocabulary. > > > Beran > > > >From: Annika Renberg <[log in to unmask]> > >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing > list > ><[log in to unmask]> > >To: [log in to unmask] > >Subject: Dumo - Summary of events > >Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2001 09:09:06 +0200 > > > >Friends on the L, > > > >I think it is good to have access to this summary > when you go through the > >statements published by Ebrima Ceesay. Look at the > dates when the > >statements were made and ask what took the state so > long to prosecute. It > >certainly looks as they are embarrassed by > something. This summary was made > >by me and has been sent to Amnesty and other > institutions and authorities. > > > >Regarding the authenticity, I am convinced. > > > >Annika (Dumos wife) > > > >SUMMARY OF EVENTS > > > >Momodou Ousman (Dumo) Sarho > > > >24 June 2000 Abducted from his family compound in > London Corner, > >Serrekunda, The Gambia, by three men in an > ash-coloured vehicle (BMW; BJL > >3716A). Mr Sarho was allowed to inform his mother > that he was being > >arrested and taken to Banjul. One of the men was > later identified as one > >Alhaji Moor, son of late Peterson Jobe. > > > >The same evening Banjul Police Head Quarter denied > any knowledge of Mr > >Sarho - including having him under custody. > Attempts to reach the NIA > >(National Intelligence Agency) for confirmation was > fruitless during the > >whole weekend. > > > >26 June The NIA denied having detained Mr Sarho. A > formal complaint, > >reporting Mr Sarho as abducted/missing, was > submitted to Banjul Police. > > > >27 June Amnesty International - Gambian branch > office was informed. > > > >30 June An open letter to the Attorney General of > The Gambia was submitted > >to his office. > > > >Copies were distributed to the local newspapers, as > well as human rights > >organisations both locally and internationally. > > > >10 July African Commission of Human & People's > rights was notified. > > > >14 July The State (Inspector General of Police, NIA > and the Attorney > >General) represented by one lawyer Wowo was called > to answer to the Banjul > >High Court on the matter of Modou Sarho's arrest > and detention. In their > >affidavit they then admitted having him and that he > was suspected of > >planning to overthrow the government by force and > to have attempted to kill > >the head of state in order to seize power. The > state further claimed that > >it would have detrimental effects to both the > investigation and the public > >if Mr Sarho and his co-suspects were released > (Ruling in the case was > >scheduled to July 18th) > > > >14 July Mr Sarho, together with 5 others, were > taken to Kanifing Magistrate > >were they were said to be suspected of treason on > two accounts: > > > > 1.. March 1999 - June 2000 having planned to > overthrow the Gambian > >government by > > force. > > > > 2.. March 1999 - June 2000 having attempted to > kill the president of > >the Gambia. > >The prosecutor explained that: > > > > 1.. She was aware that treason was a too > serious crime to be heard by > >the Magistrate > > 2.. She had not been given enough time to go > through the evidences. > > 3.. Provided she found the evidences binding, > she promised to file > >charges in the High court on Monday July 17th. > > 4.. She further appealed that the suspects > should be kept in remand, > >since "treason is not a bailable offence" > >The magistrate ruled that the suspects should be > kept in remand and > >complimented the prosecutor for her intention to > file charges > >expeditiously. No lawyer to assist the suspects was > present at the hearing. > > > >18 July In Banjul High Court, Judge Mam Yassin Sey, > ruled in the case of Mr > >Sarho's arrest and detention, that it was clearly > against the Constitution > >and laws of the Gambia as well as the African > Charter of Human Rights. She > >explained that Mr Sarho's basic human rights - > granted to him in the > >Constitution - had been seriously violated. She > further stated that, had it > >not been for the magistrate ruling from Kanifing, > of which she were not > >aware at the time of the hearing, she (Judge Sey) > would have ordered for Mr > >Sarho's immediate release. > > > >The state explained that they intended to appeal > the ruling. > > > >18 July Mr Tambadou, lawyer, wrote a letter to the > Secretary of State for > >Interior, appealing for a permit to visit Mr Sarho > in his place of > >detention. Referring to the serious crime of which > Mr Sarho was suspected, > >Mr Tambadou emphasised the need for legal > counselling. > > > >27 July A second open letter was addressed to the > Attorney General of the > >Gambia. > > > >19 August The Secretary of State for Justice during > a Press Conference on > >the issue of illegal detention of Mr Dumo Sarho and > others, said that: " > >Those who expect to enjoy the rights guaranteed in > democracy must play by > >the democratic rules. No one expects government to > treat anyone, bent on > >under-mining its very existence as if he only > committed a minor traffic''. > >And he added that due to the nature of the case, > families and lawyers have > >been denied access to the detainees. > > > >19 October A motion was heard by Justice Kabalata > in the Banjul High Court, > >regarding the right to file an appeal against the > ruling in Kanifing > >Magistrate, although the stipulated time for filing > an appeal was overdue. > >No representative for the state was present and the > hearing was adjourned > >for 30 minutes, while attempts were made to call a > representative. Since no > >one appeared, Justice Kabalata decided to proceed > and finally ruled that Mr > >Sarho's legal representatives should be granted the > right to appeal against > >the ruling of Kanifing Magistrate in the High > court, > > > >25 October An appeal against the ruling in Kanifing > Magistrate was filed at > >the High Court in Banjul. > > > >30 October The lawyers, Mr Tambadou and Emanuel > Joof were informed by the > >High court, that the State, referring to the fact > that === message truncated === __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! 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