The Special Criminal Court Division of High Court has on Tuesday dismissed the contempt of court charges against former state minister Yankuba Touray.
Touray was charged to court about a month for refusing to testify before the country’s Truth Commission on claims that he has constitutional immunity.
His arrest was immediately ordered by the Commission and subsequently taken before the High Court.
But in her ruling, Justice Sainabou Wadda Cisse said the State did not follow proper procedure in the filing of the contempt of court charges against Touray.
Justice Cisse said the signed statement of Dr Lamin Sise, the chairman of the Commission, is not binding on the Court.
The State was seeking to prosecute Yankuba on contempt of court charges for refusing to testify before the Truth Commission.
The Truth Commission, according to its act, has powers akin to the powers of the High Court. Thus, state prosecutor’s position was that by refusing to testify before the Commission, Touray have committed contempt before the High Court.
Meanwhile, Touray is remanded in state custody pending his murder trial. He currently faces single count of murder for his allege involvement in the killing of former finance minister Ousman Koro Ceesay.
The attorney general Abubacarr Tambadu said they will increase his charges to 10 counts of murder and he is likely to face charges of other serious offences.
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