“I was attending funerals,” accused told the court

Senior Magistrate Abdoulie Mbake of Kanifing Magistrates Court, on Wednesday, demanded explanation from one Katim Ceesay for his regular absence from court.

The accused was said to have absent himself from court on five occasions without dully obtaining clearance from the court, which caused the court to order a bench warrant for his arrest. In his explanation, the accused told the court that he had been attending funerals at his home village, a testimony the court would not accept. The senior magistrate therefore revoked his bail.

The accused has been facing trial on charges of felony, to which he had since pleaded not guilty. According to the facts, the accused and one Ebrima Ndow had stolen 150 bags of cement from Gacem Cement, valued at D36,000, in the month of June 2008.

Meanwhile, the magistrate ordered that the accused be kept in remand till 11th February 2009. Police prosecutor, Inspector Fadera, appeared for the IGP.