Independent, Monday Feb. 11th


As treason trial adjourns for a month Dumo's relatives cry bitterly in court 

There were heart-rending scenes at the High Court Thursday as relatives and well-wishers of Dumo Sarho, Lt Lalo Jaiteh, Lt Omar Darboe and others cried their eyes out as the treason trial was adjourned for almost a month. 

Hearing on the case was to be on March 5. Relatives and friends of the accused who had come to the court in droves, shed tears of frustration over what they saw as a slow judicial process, which would mean the prolonged custody for the accused some of whom appeared calm. The case which had been adjourned on several occasions due to the absence of one of the defence counsel Ousman Sillah who was taken ill and hospitalized was again adjourned notwithstanding the normal procedures on criminal matters, which spell that criminal matters should not be adjourned for more than a fortnight. 

As soon as the accused persons were out of court the escorted by military and prison police officers, almost everybody including the wives of the accused and students from Boka Lolo Skills Training Centre broke down in tears. "Don't worry, don't worry. Allah is good" Lt Omar Darboe who was himself the epitome of sadness bust out, caressing and consoling one of his relatives. This is the third time that the case has been adjourned due to the illness of lawyer Ousman Sillah. The state was represented by DPP Akomaye Agim while the only defence counsel in present in court was lawyer Ousainou Darboe. 

According to the presiding judge Justice Wallace Grante although it is not normal for such an adjournment to be made because nobody knows what its happening to Lawyer Sillah. He had sent a medical paper to the court seen by both counsels. "It does not mean that we want to delay the case. But what I want to advise you is that it is better for your counsel to be here before any proceeding" Justice Wallace Grante told the accused persons. The matter has been adjourning to March 5. 

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