The treason trial of one Abdoulie Sonko was brought to an abrupt halt last Tuesday June 22 when the court discovered that some prosecution exhibits were missing from the court file.

He is being tried before Justice Joseph Wowo of the High Court, and the discovery was made after he was called to open his defense. The accused is charged with 9 counts of criminal offense to wit three counts of treason and 6 counts of murder. According to the prosecution, the accused was one of those who attacked the Farafenni Army Camp in the North Bank Region on November 8, 1996.

On Tuesday, when the case was called, the defense counsel, Lawyer Lamin S. Camara requested asked for the production of some of the exhibits that had been considered during the course of the trial. The presiding judge then discovered that the said exhibits were not in the court file.

Justice Wowo then asked the accused who the previous judge of the case had been. It was disclosed that four judges, including Justice MA Paul and Justice Yeboah, had previously handled the case.

Justice Wowo subsequently instructed the court clerk, Asi Sambou, to ensure that all the exhibits and facts about the case are intact before the next adjourned date. The matter was adjourned to 8th July 2009 for hearing.