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Momodou
Denmark
11734 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Dec 2015 : 09:49:22
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PRINCIPAL CAMARA OF DAMFAYE SCHOOL ARRESTED
By Abdoulie G. Dibba and Mustapha Jallow
Foroyaa: December 23, 2015
 Information reaching this medium has it that Lamin Camara, the Principal of Damfaye School in the Sami District Central River Region has been arrested on Friday by the Bansang Police.
According to sources, Mr Camara was transporting some donated materials in a vehicle but the vehicle was detained by the police upon arrival at the Kaur check point, the driver was intercepted by the police and in the process.
On Friday 18 December, Mr. Camara was arrested at his residence and taken to Bansang Police Station where he is currently being detained. It is said that three men on motorcycles, who identified themselves as police officers, asked him to accompany them to Bansang police station and which he did riding his own motor bicycle.
When contacted on the issue, Police Commissioner Sankareh confirmed the arrest and indicated that the principal is under investigation.
Asked as to what crime he is being investigated, Commissioner Sankareh indicated that he cannot give that information to the press and referred the reporter to the Police Public Relation Officer. "I cannot disclose that but contact the Police Public Relation Officer and I will furnish him with all the information with regards to Camara," stated Commissioner Sankareh.
The school principal is now held at the Bansang police station without release or court appearance for more than 72 hours in contravention of Section 19 Subsection (3)(b) of the constitution of the second republic which states that ¡§Any person who is arrested or detained¡K who is not released, shall be brought without undue delay before a court and, in any event, within seventy-two hours¡¨.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11734 Posts |
Posted - 30 Dec 2015 : 10:27:37
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Detained Principal transferred to Janjangbureh Prison
By Mustapha Jallow
Foroyaa: December 29, 2015
Madam Jainaba Drammeh, wife of the unlawfully detained Lamin Camara, a Principal of Denfaye School, said her husband was transferred from Bansang Police Station to Janjangbureh Prison in the Central River Region (CRR) on Thursday, 24 December, 2015.
She is calling on the authorities to urgently release her husband as he has spent 9 days in detention without bail or due process of the law. She added that they know their husband as a good and hardworking man and he is not politically involved in anything. She said her husband has two wives, and has described his long detention as traumatizing to the young family as he was their sole breadwinner.
Asked whether the authorities had given them access to him and how he is treated at the prison; Madam Drammeh revealed that they are allowed to not only see him, but to as well take clothes and food to him. She said her husband¡¦s health condition is normal but their concern is for their husband to be freed from the said prison.
The wife of Camara concluded by reiterating her call for the head of state to intervene and secure the release of her husband, adding that she is disturbed because the children keep asking for the whereabouts of their father.
Reports had earlier indicated that Lamin Camara, who is residing at Denfaye, Sami District and also the Principal of Denfaye Basic Cycle in Sami, Central River Region North (CRR North), was arrested at his home by 3 plain clothes officers who are said to be stationed at Bansang Police Station on Friday, 18 December, 2015 in the evening.
According to his distraught wife, the 3 men came with their motor cycles and asked Mr Camara to accompany them to the police station; and without hesitation, her husband then followed them with his own motorcycle to the station. She said upon their arrival Mr Camara was detained.
The following day, Saturday, they visited the station but they were told by a police officer they met there that the O/C was not available.
A family source said they revisited the station on Monday, 21 December, in order to secure his release as the 72 hours limit had been exceeded but they were told by a Police (CID) they found there that investigation was still ongoing and he would not be released. She said the police told them that they are acting under directive from the top. A family source disclosed that their loved one was denied bail but had access to food and clothes.
¡¥¡¥We¡¦re not given any reason why our brother is being held,¡¦¡¦ a relative lamented.
Detention beyond 72 hours is in violation of Section 19 Subsection (3)(b) of the Constitution of the second republic which states that ¡§Any person who is arrested or detained¡K who is not released, shall be brought without undue delay before a court and, in any event, within seventy-two hours¡¨.
When contacted on the issue after the arrest was affected, Police Commissioner Sankareh confirmed the arrest and indicated that the detainee is under investigation. He however did not disclose the reason for the arrest but referred Foroyaa to the Police Relation Officer (PRO), ASP Mr Lamin Njie who, on Sunday, 27 December, promised to find out from his seniors and get back to this reporter.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11734 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jan 2016 : 17:18:39
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School Principal Denies Sending any Written Publication As he Cross Examines police investigator
Kebba Jeffang Reporting from CRR
Foroyaa: January 6, 2016
Mr. Lamin Camara, the Principal of Demfaye Basic Cycle School, told the Bansang Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 4th January, LaminCamara, Principal of Damfaye School2016 while cross examining the police officer who testified as the first prosecution witness (PW1), that he did not send out any written publication to the purported website www.seedysanneh.com.
The accused was initially charged with false publication and broadcasting.
When the matter was called before the Magistrate, in a crowded courtroom filled by colleagues, friends and relatives, Chief Inspector Camara announced his appearance for the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The accused person, who was not represented during the proceedings, informed the court that his family is getting him a lawyer for the case.
Prosecutor CI Camara told the court that the matter has already been mentioned at the Brikamaba Magistrates’ Court last week and has now been transferred to Bansang. He then applied to make amendment on the charge sheet by adding another charge. He stated that the accused person will be charged with libel for exposing a police officer on the internet.
When it was read out to the accused person by the presiding magistrate, he responded that he understands the new charge.
The court therefore upheld the application making ‘False publication and broadcasting’ as count one and ‘Libel’ as count two.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Testifying as PW1, Abdoulie Boye, a police officer attached to Bansang police station, said he recognised the accused person and could recall what had transpired between them on the 16th December, 2015. He narrated that on this fateful day, he was on duty at the said station and was informed by the Commissioner of Police for CRR that one of his officers was exposed to the internet. He said his superior asked him to visit the site www.seedysanneh.com and where he logged on to see the picture of one Sergeant Bayo of Kaur police station in police uniform. He said he saw the picture with the caption in hand written note “To whom it may concern”.
The police officer adduced that “the following day, the Station Officer Manneh told me that the driver who was caught by the police and issued with the said caption, was going with the principal of Demfaye Basic Cycle Mr. Lamin Camara. I left the office with Corporal Malafa and PC Jawla to locate the said Mr. Camara. Upon arrival at Demfaye village, we met him in his house browsing the internet. We identified ourselves as police officers and explained our mission of going there. He was arrested and escorted to Bansang police station. Upon returning, he was interrogated and he stated that he scanned and sent the written note to one Mr Khan in the USA. That note was given to a driver and the said note was shown to him. He denied scanning the said picture being sent by him but later the said scanned photo was seen in his phone. There he was cautioned and he further revealed that the said police officer demanded D3000 from the driver. I printed out the said written note with its caption.”
The prosecutor at this stage showed the print out of the said written note to the witness who identified the document as the exact one.
However, the accused person raised an objection for the admissibility of the said document, adding “I recognize the picture, but I have no idea about the publication. At the police station, no one told me about it. Whenever I asked them about it they wouldn’t respond.”
The trial magistrate indicated that he will consider the objection at the stage of the judgment and let the document to be admitted as exhibit in court.
Under cross examination, the accused person asked the witness “when you came to my house, can you sincerely tell the court whether I had any idea about this publication when I was arrested?” The witness responded that all what he has stated in court is the truth.
“How many days did I spend with you at Bansang police station?” asked the accused. “I can’t recall that,” replied the police.
“When was I taken to Janjangbureh remand and how?” asked the accused. “I can’t recall, even though I escorted you,” replied the witness.
“When was my case mentioned at Brikamaba Magistrates’ Court?” asked the accused. “I am the one that escorted you to Brikamaba court but I can’t recall,” responded the police officer.
“Can you recall what the magistrate told you at Brikamaba Magistrates’ court upon my bail denial?” “I can’t recall.”
“You said here that I denied saying that I sent the picture to Mr Khan, Is that true?”. “Yes.”
“Did I say I scanned any picture or a written note?” “Yes, you said you scanned.”
The accused person then put it to the witness that he did not scan any picture. The witness insisted that the picture was sent and it was found in the accused person’s phone.
“When I arrived, did any of you show me the article that accompanied the picture at the police station,” asked the accused person. “I can’t recall that,” replied the witness.
“How was my health and where was I taken to when I have given my statement?” asked the accused person. The witness said the statement was not recorded by him.
The Magistrate granted bail to the accused person, who was detained for over two weeks in different centres, including the remand wing of Janjangbureh prison, in the sum of One hundred thousand dalasi (D100,000) and with 3 sureties who all must deposit their Identity Cards.
The matter was adjourned till 13th January, 2016 for the resumption of the trial with another prosecution witness.
After having fulfilled the bail conditions, Principal Camara was seen being escorted by a large crowd of his colleagues, friends and relatives, who came to attend the proceedings, out of the court premises and heading towards the Bansang car park.
Source: http://www.foroyaa.gm/archives/8810 |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11734 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jan 2016 : 18:54:03
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Sidi Sanneh: Principal of Damfaye School is innocent
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
It is absurd to accuse an innocent man whose only crime is to dedicate his entire professional life in the service of Gambian children as qualified teacher, who, according to sources, have chosen to stay in The Gambia to teach rather than migrate to Europe or the United States when he had the opportunity.
Our advise to the regime is: Free an innocent man so that he can go back to his classroom and look after our kids and grand kids.
Lamin Camara, the principal of Damfaye was in Banjul to collect project material sent by well-meaning and caring Gambians living in the United States to complete a project at Damfaye School.
We do not know Lamin Camara and have never communicated with him. Therefore, he could not have provided information at any time to the Sidi Sanneh Blog - sidisanneh.blogspot.com - or to anyone associated with the Blog. The charges against Lamin Camara are trumped up which should be dropped.
Read More at: http://sidisanneh.blogspot.com/2016/01/principal-of-damfaye-school-is-innocent.html
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PRINCIPAL CAMARA OF DAMFAYE SCHOOL ARRESTED
