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BETWEEN:
IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE GAMBIA
CRIMINAL CASE No: HC/114/09/CR/019/AO
THE STATE
COMPLAINANT
AND
SARJO KANTEH
ACCUSED PERSON
MONDAY 12th DECEMBER 2011
BEFORE HON. JUSTICE EMMANUEL A. NKEA
ACCUSED PERSON PRESENT
MR S. H BARKUN (DDPP) FOR THE STATE PRESENT
MR. B.S. TOURAY FOR THE ACCUSED PRESENT
JUDGMENT
Upon a bill of indictment dated and filed the 17th March 2009, the accused
person herein stands charged before this Court for having on the 10th day
of May 2008 at Bundung, in the Kanifing Municipality of The Gambia
unlawfully had carnal knowledge of one MAIMUNA DARBOE, a 7 year
old child contrary to Section 121 and punishable under Section 122 of the
Criminal Code. The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charge.
I am compelled to begin this judgment by first setting out the bizarre
circumstances surrounding this trial. This case was first mentioned at the
Bundung Magistrates Court then presided at by Her Worship K.S Camara
(as she then was) on the 2nd of June 2008. Between this date and the 10th of
January 2009 the matter was adjourned 32 times for one reason or another