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Momodou
Denmark
11734 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Oct 2010 : 19:50:37
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Dr Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang
By Publisher
15-10-10
Concerns over the remanding of two prominent Gender and Human Rights Defenders at the female wing have started to mushroom in the International Media. The following organisations have issued a statement calling for the fundamental rights of Dr Touray and Amie Bojang to be respected: Inter African Network for Women, Media, Gender and Development – (FAMEDEV), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Syndicat des Professionnels de l’Information et de la Communication du Sénégal (SYNPICS), Rencontre Africaine pour le Défense Des Droits de l’Homme (RADDHO) Amnesty International, Section Senegal, Radio Alternative Voice for Gambians-Radio AVG, Article 19, Organisation Nationale des Droits de l’Homme (ONDH
According to their Press Release, two prominent Gender and Human Rights defenders, Dr. Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang Sissoho were arrested and detained on Monday October 11th, 2010 by Gambian security forces, kept in police custody at the Banjul Police station, and remanded on Tuesday 12 October 2010 by the Banjul Magistrate’s Court.
Dr. Isatou Touray, Executive Director and Amie Bojang Sissoho, Programme Coordinator, of the Gambia Committee for Traditional Practices (GAMCOTRAP) have over the years been very active and effective in the promotion of gender, women and children’s rights particularly as they relate to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other discriminatory practices.
GAMCOTRAP is one of the lead organisations working in the area of women and girls’ empowerment, FGM and other harmful practices that affect the lives and circumstances of women and girls in The Gambia. GAMCOTRAP’s years of struggle and countless efforts have contributed significantly to the development of women and girls in The Gambia and elsewhere and has led to over 100(one hundred) circumcisers dropping their knives publicly and abandoning the practice.
The two ladies were detained since Monday 11th October, 2010 and charged with theft of 30 thousand Euros. They spent Monday night in police custody, and their application for bail that was due to be decided on Tuesday the 12th has been refused and the two women’s rights defenders have been remanded for 8(eight) days.
In his ruling, the presiding magistrate, Mr Emmanuel Nkea noted that he was in a tight corner and found it difficult to decide because both prosecution and defence have failed to elaborate on the issue of whether the defendants will use their influence to interfere with the investigation of the police which the police say is incomplete. In the end he refused them bail and remanded them in custody at the Female Wing of Mile Two Prisons for 8(eight) days after which they will proceed to court for hearing. The Prosecutor had asked for fourteen days to enable them complete their investigation
They expressed that since May the management of a Spanish donor fund to GAMCOTRAP from YOLOCAMBA SOLIDARIDAD has been a subject of inquiry. They expressed the opinion that the investigations are not new and that it had come to their knowledge that a panel had earlier presided over the investigation and had completed their part. They implied that justice is not seen to be done by denying the two Gender Activists bail.
The Concerned Organisations call on President Yaya Jammeh and his government to respect the constitutional rights of Dr. Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang Sissoho and to allow justice to prevail.
They also expressed concern that a trend is developing which may lead to the imposing of greater control and restrictions on the NGOs.
Source: Foroyaa
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 16 Oct 2010 : 18:40:27
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''As for the arrest of Dr. Isatou Tourey and Amy Sisooho Bojang, Yolocamba made no complaint, authorities simply wanted to be informed of the cooperative activities being undertaken and the alleged misappropriation of funds to create alternatives employment for women who abandoned the practice of female genital mutilation. Then the Gambian government began a formal investigation to clarify the issue. As a result of this investigation showed evidence of crime that will become clear in the process already begun and in which Yolocamba Solidarity is not involved.''- Yolocamba Solidarity of Spain
I am particularly concern about this statement above from Yolocamba Solidarity, a Spanish NGO. I hope this would be better explained by the defendants during trial. I'd like to believe there is some element of misinformation here but the use of the phrase '' Evidence of crime'' rather than ''Evidence of allege crime'' is bit worrying.
I also believe that the decision not to grant them bail despite their well known impeccable personal integrity is a travesty that yet again, questions the capability of the Gambia's Criminal Justice System to guarantee and safeguard the basic norms of a fair trial. These are ladies of good character and of reputable standing who are capable of meeting any bail condition that is proportionate to their allege offence and are not likely to abscond the jurisdiction. It is therefore wholly unjust that they are denied bail and remanded in the country’s most notorious prison, Mile 2.
Regards
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 16 Oct 2010 18:47:57 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2010 : 16:54:31
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And so it continues,what is happening here ? when there is a chance of bail as opposed to incarceration in Mile 2,why should the application be withdrawn? Mind you seeing that fixed date of 20th October (two days time)for hearing it is understandable
http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/remanded-gamcotrap-officials-withdrew-bail-application
remanded Gamcotrap officials withdrew bail application
Africa » Gambia
Monday, October 18, 2010
Two top Gamcotrap officials, Dr. Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang-Sissoho who were recently remanded by the Banjul Magistrates Court presided over by Principal Magistrate Emmanuel Nkea have filed an application before the High Court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Amadi, seeking bail from the said superior court.
The two are standing trial on a criminal charge of theft and the particulars stated that Dr. Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang-Sissoho sometime in the year 2009 in Banjul and in diverse places jointly stole the sum of 30, 000 Euros being money provided by the YALOCAMBA SOLIDARIDAD of Spain to Gamcotrap. The two were arraigned before the Banjul Magistrates Court last Tuesday, 12th of October 2010, before Principal Magistrate Emmanuel Nkea who ruled that the two be remanded in prison custody until the 20th of October 2010 when the case comes up.
Magistrate Nkea's ruling came in the wake of the defence counsel's application for bail for the two accused persons. Subsequently after the accused persons' bail was refused by the Magistrates Court, another bail application was filed before Justice Emmanuel Amadi of the High Court and the hearing was scheduled for last Friday, 15th of October 2010.
When the matter came up last Friday, the two officials were present at the court and their counsel, Amie Bensouda informed the court that they have deemed it fit to withdraw the application for bail for the two accused persons. The senior state counsel, Jones Nebo who represented the state did not oppose the application for withdrawal.
The presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Amadi subsequently struck out the application.
Author: by Sidiq Asemota
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2010 : 01:36:49
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Toubab, it is for tactical reasons. If they don't do this, the state will frustrate their bail argument in the lower court. They [state] will argue that the lower court cannot deliberate on the bail issue since the matter is already in a superior court. That would then mean that the defendants would have to spend more time in Mile 2 than they should have under what was hitherto envisaged in the prior bail application hearing at the lower court.
I hope this helps
Regards
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 19 Oct 2010 01:37:45 |
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Momodou
Denmark
11734 Posts |
Posted - 21 Oct 2010 : 19:36:12
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GAMCOMTRAP officials granted bail
By Bakary Samateh
Thursday, October 21, 2010
 Picture: Amie Bojang Sissoho and Dr Isatou Touray
Top officials of the Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (GAMCOTRAP), Dr Isatou Touray Executive Director and Amie Bojang Sissoho program co-ordinator, were yesterday granted bail in the sum of D1.5 million each to be provided by sureties with landed property within the Greater Banjul Area.
This development at the Banjul Magistrates' Court followed another bail application made by defence counsel led by Amie Bensouda yesterday.
The case attracted a large crowd, including members of civil society organizations.
It would be recalled that Dr Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang Sissoho were first arraigned before the court on Monday 12th October charged with theft, a charge they denied. They were subsequently remanded first at police headquarters, then at the remand wing of the Mile 2 state central prison.
During Wednesday's court sitting, Amie Bensouda told the court that the police had confirmed to the court that their investigation into the case had been completed.
Since 12th October 2010, she said, the court had ordered the police to expedite their investigation, and that the police prosecutor, Superintendent Joof, confirmed to the court that the investigation was completed.
Counsel added that it would not be proper to further remand the accused persons after the police had confirmed to the court that the investigation was completed.
"If the police think that the accused persons should be further remanded in custody, pending the outcome of the case, it would not be fair to the accused persons, whose rights have already been violated," she stated.
"The police have completed their investigations since May 2010 by recovering 23 documents from GAMCOMTRAP office, and yet still they are opposing bail to the accused persons without any grounds," counsel told the court.
She said that any further indulgence without granting bail to the accused persons would be tamtamout to the violation of their rights, and cited section 24 of the CPC, urging the court to grant the accused persons bail.
The prosecuting officer, Superintendent Joof, had earlier told the court that the prosecution was maintaining their earlier objection to bail for the accused persons.
Superintendent Joof told the court that, though the investigation into the matter was completed, the prosecution still fears that the accused persons can interfere with the case.
He added that the prosecution wanted to proceed with the case, but witnesses were not in court. He, therefore, urged the court to remand the accused persons in custody.
Principal Magistrate Emmanuel Nkea in his ruling stated that the court had gone through the previous ruling it delivered on 12th October 2010. He said the reason why the court did not grant them bail during their first appearance was due to the fear that they might tamper with the investigation.
"Since the police prosecutor has confirmed to the court that the investigation was completed, it will be unwise to further remand the accused persons in custody," Magistrate Nkea told the court, before granting bail to the accused persons.
The case was adjourned to 3rd November 2010 for hearing.
According to prosecutors, the two women's rights activists, Dr. Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang-Sissoho, sometime in the year 2009, in Banjul and diverse places in the Gambia, jointly stole the sum of 30,000 Euros being money provided by the YALOCAMBA SOLIDARIDAD of Spain to GAMCOTRAP, which is a local non-governmental organisation actively campaigning against the practice of female genital mutilation in the Gambia.
Source: The Point |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 21 Oct 2010 : 19:49:00
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Ah yes the lawyers and proceedure I understand
quote:
Originally posted by Nyarikangbanna
Toubab, it is for tactical reasons. If they don't do this, the state will frustrate their bail argument in the lower court. They [state] will argue that the lower court cannot deliberate on the bail issue since the matter is already in a superior court. That would then mean that the defendants would have to spend more time in Mile 2 than they should have under what was hitherto envisaged in the prior bail application hearing at the lower court.
I hope this helps
Regards
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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