Moses Richard’s Case Resumes

FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)

Abdou Aziz Saho

15 July 2011

The case of Barrister Moses B Johnson Richards, a former High Court Judge and currently a private legal practitioner who is facing the criminal charge of giving false information to a public officer resumed on Wednesday 13 July, before Principal Magistrate Taiwo Alagbe of the Banjul Magistrates Court.

Readers would recall that the trial of Justice Richards triggered a stiff reaction from the Gambian Bar, who had to boycott the courts in solidarity with their colleague who is charged with a criminal offence whilst serving the interest of his client.

The case was called by the clerk whilst there was no trace of the state counsel. State counsel Mam Jobe informed the court that she was in court for a different matter and besides she is not familiar with the facts of the case. She however applied for either an adjournment or a stand down to allow her inform the state counsel in the case as to how the case came up in his absence, but her application was struck with a stiff objection from one of the country’s senior lawyers, Lawyer Antouman Gaye who reacted by saying: “With all due respects we are vehemently objecting to both applications.”

The magistrate after listening to both sides, took five minutes to enable him advise himself on what to do.

When the court rose again, senior lawyer Gaye applied for an adjournment, saying that he had a matter at the High Court. He continued that his time at the Magistrates’ Court was exhausted. Mr. Gaye informed the court that there is a hierarchy in the courts’ set up and that he would not sacrifice the High Court’s time for the magistrate’s. “Besides, your worship demanded for five minutes to advise himself but ended up taking thirty five minutes,” said Mr. Antouman Gaye, who later left for the High Court.

The magistrate overruled Gaye’s application, saying the defendant (Richards) is a legal mind and can defend himself. Mr. Richards however responded by reminding the court that he is the accused person and cannot defend himself. D.O Kulo continued with the cross-examination of the defence witness.

“You gave evidence on the 16th June, you said there is a legal department in your office that permit construction and demolition?” Mr. Kulo reminded the witness. However, the state counsel’s reminder was greeted with objection simultaneously coming from the defendant (Richards) and his colleague at the Bar Ms. Coker. They both objected saying the witness never said anything like such. The magistrate however overruled the objection allowing the witness to respond to Mr. Kulo. The witness said: “I never said we have a legal department, my office itself is legal.”

The case was the adjourned for Mr. Antouman Gaye to re-examine the defence witness.

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