14 Islamic scholars’ ‘attackers’ jailed

Eight people, all citizens of Tabanani, in the Lower Fulladou West District, Central River Region, were recently arraigned before the CRR travelling magistrate, Amadou Baldeh, charged with perjury and subordinating perjury, under Section 95 of the Evidence Act.

They were accused of disrupting the peace, contrary to Section 9 Cap 22 of the Public Order Act. They are Bampha Biyai, Yaya Biyai, Keluntang Cisay, Nuha Sanyang, Malang Cisay, Seedy Janneh, and Kebba Bayo.

The eighth accused, Muhammed Trawalleh, after the cross-examination of all seven of his colleagues, was acquitted and discharged. Magistrate Amadou Baldeh said all seven concurred/connived against Muhammed Trawalleh, an Islamic scholar working with Alhajie Kebba Fatty of Tabanani, to create pandemonium in the village, and that he had no connection with the stated charges.

In a separate development, seven others were arraigned before the same travelling magistrate after they waged a serious fight against another Islamic scholar - Saja Darboe of Alhagie Kabba Fatty’s institution, causing him actual bodily harm.  Saja is now undergoing eye treatment at the RVTH. Appearing before the court on 22nd September, at Janjanbureh Court House, all of them were charged and remanded at the Janjanbureh Prisons and refused bail until the next court sitting, which is 15th October, 2008.

Magistrate Amadou Baldeh said the decision to send all 14 accused persons to remand for 3 weeks without bail was based on the fact that they were a total menace to the society, and that their illegal actions, if not immediately arrested, could result into serious fatal consequences in the village. Mr Amadou Baldeh said he could not sleep as a result of the flood of telephone calls from the Janjanbureh Police Station about crime in Tabanani Village.

He however warned of legal action against anyone found to be part of these crimes at Tabanani at the end of the court proceedings.