High Court Judge Ordered the Unconditional Release of Lawyer Jack-Denton By The Gambia Journal
Jul 25, 2006, 21:04 Banjul, July 24 The Gambia Journal
Mrs. Mariam Jack-Denton, the Gambian senior lawyer detained since April 6th was on Monday, July 24th, ordered to be released by a High Court in Banjul. Justice Monageng ruled in a jam packed court-room that Mrs. Jack-Denton be unconditionally released after being in detention for 110 days. Though no charges were ever preferred against her at the time of Monday’s ruling, many believe she was arrested and detained in connection with the alleged March 21st coup d’Etat attempt. Mrs. Jack-Denton is the first Gambian woman to be called to the bar and is known for her strong views on the Jammeh regime’s appalling Human Rights records.
Last week, on Monday 17th, Tuesday, 18th, and Wednesday 19th, she appeared in court for an application for release. She was defended by a dynamic team of all the private-practice female lawyers in the country, led by Lawyer Ida Drammeh. After three days of legal wrangling in which the acting Director of Public Prosecution, Fangbele argued against a release, the presiding Judge, Justice Monageng adjourned the case till on Monday for ruling. When the court resumed on Monday, she decided on granting the learned lawyer an unconditional release, amidst cheers and jubilations. The only proviso was that Mrs. Jack-Denton should not travel out of the jurisdiction, and make herself available to the police when requested.
The cheers however did not last long, because shortly after the judgment, the Acting Director of Public Prosecution stood up and announced that the state was now filing charges against Mrs. Jack-Denton, for concealment of treason. This meant she was to be rearrested. However, Justice Monageng refused to entertain the acting DPP’s charge at the time. The Gambia Journal has learnt that the police were on the lookout for Mrs. Jack-Denton shortly after her release. Many believe that the police wanted her back in detention for the new charge of treason. Meanwhile, her aunt and 19-year old son, Pa Modou Denton, along with another relative and the driver of her father’s car in which they were traveling, were stopped and arrested at the Oyster Creek Bridge on their way to Serekunda from Banjul. The police presumed Mariam was in the vehicle. The four were held, as ransom, for several hours at the Banjul police station and released only when Mrs. Jack-Denton later
reported to the police headquarters in Banjul. As we go to press, Mrs. Jack-Denton is detained at the police HQ.
In another development, a contingent of armed police on the same Monday afternoon, July 24th, stormed the offices of Lawyer Ousainou Darbo, who is also leader of the opposition alliance of UDP/NRP. They searched through the offices, turning everything up side down and said they were looking for drugs and weapons. Mr. Darbo, who is also Mariam Jack-Denton’s legal counsel had been present at the High Court in Banjul for the ruling that released the detained senior lawyer. Mr. Darbo could not be reached for comment on the police raid of his law offices.
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