By Ousman Saidykhan
The trial of three men accused of robbing the United Vegetable Oil Company in Banjul is set to move forward. After the state submits an amended indictment, plea-taking is scheduled for Monday, April 14. Abdoulie Jallow, Alfusainey O. Jobarteh, and Ansumana Jarju, named as the first, second, and third accused, respectively, face a three-count indictment alleging they conspired to steal 400,000 dalasis from the company located near Denton Bridge.
The charges also claim that during the robbery, the accused tied up and suffocated the company’s security guard, Sadivi Hauya, by binding his hands and legs and covering his mouth. The State finalized its indictment after an adjournment was granted on March 26, when prosecutors indicated they were still determining the number of individuals to be charged.
Only the third accused, Ansumana Jarju, was represented in court during today’s hearing. The first and second accused, Jallow and Jobarteh, who are to be represented by the National Agency for Legal Aid (NALA), were absent, and no explanation was provided for their non-appearance. As a result, the plea-taking was deferred to next week.
In a related development, a fourth individual, Omar Secka, initially brought to court alongside the three accused, will face separate charges. State Counsel M.B. Mballow informed the court that Secka’s indictment differs from the United Vegetable Oil Company robbery case. The State requested an extension of Secka’s remand pending his appearance before another judge.
This application drew objection from Counsel E. Sanneh, who represents the first accused, Jallow. Sanneh argued that continuing Secka’s detention without presenting the relevant charges before the court violated his constitutional right to liberty. “To continue detaining Secka will breach his right to liberty,” Sanneh contended, warning that granting the State’s request would undermine the court’s duty to protect individual rights.
State Counsel Mballow countered that evidence filed at the Magistrate’s Court justified Secka’s detention, asserting its legality. Justice O. Cham sided with the State, ruling that sufficient information existed to warrant Secka’s continued detention until his case was heard before another judge.
With the amended indictment now in place, all eyes are on Monday’s hearing, when Jallow, Jobarteh, and Jarju are expected to enter their pleas, marking the next step in this high-profile armed robbery case.
