The lawyers representing the two accused persons said the state has brought another case against them at the High Court. The state neither confirms nor deny but argues for the accused to be discharged as they withdrew the case.
Yankuba Touray, a former member of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council and state minister, and Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay, have been discharged by Kanifing Magistrate Court on Wednesday.
The two are battling two counts of interference with a witness before country’s Truth Commission investigating the human rights violations of former president Yahya Jammeh.
They both reportedly called the Commission witness Alagie Kanyi and asked him not to take the institution seriously.
By the laws of the Commission that is a crime for which one could go to jail for three years or be fined D1 million or both.
However, the state that brought the case against the two withdrew on Wednesday without explanation and requested for the accused to be discharged.
The two were discharged though the defense lawyers were arguing for an acquittal.
“They have not advanced any reasons for their withdrawal. It would not be in the interest of justice to subject them (the accused persons) to the risk of prosecution before another court on the same charges; that would be travesty of justice,” argued lawyer of Touray, Lamin Camara.
According to the court, an acquittal would have been unjust under the circumstances, thus agreeing to discharge the two.
The state has not explained why it withdrew the case. However, the defense lawyers said the state has filed a case at the High Court against the two.
Both Touray and Ceesay have denied any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, the two have been arrested by police following their court appearance on Wednesday. They were released on bail. There are indications that the state is filling charges against them again after withdrawing the initial one.
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