Principal Magistrate Sheriff Tabally of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court yesterday adjourned the criminal trial involving 18 alleged homosexuals and the two alleged lesbians who were charged with indecent act, contrary to the Laws of The Gambia.

This adjournment was made following an application made by the deputy director of Public Prosecution (DPP) SH Barkun from the AG chambers, together with Ramatoulie Jawara and S. Sankareh, both state counsels.The DDPP applied under Section 87 of the Constitution of The Gambia 1997 that he would now be taking over the case and that, he would need time to study the case file.

Defence counsel L.S Camara told the court that he has no objection to the application made by the DDPP but said he only wants them to take a shorter date. The DDPP in his reply told the court that he will need a period of two weeks because the case is a very serious one and the accused persons are on bail, but defence counsel Camara and Lawyer Badou Conteh, who is also representing some of the accused persons both objected that two weeks is not convenient.

The presiding magistrate in his ruling noted that he has reviewed the fact that the state has taken over the matter, and he therefore granted the DDPP’s application. The case was adjourned to 8th May, 2012 at 2pm.