Justice Moses Richards of the Special Criminal Court in Banjul has expressed his strong and uncompromising resolve towards achieving fair and speedy trials in his court. He added that both parties to cases must be seen to be cooperating in the interest of justice.

The SCC judge made these remarks while presiding over three counts of criminal offence of kidnapping, stealing and causing grievous bodily harm involving Sherrif Jallow, Gibril Jallow and Banna Joiner.  DDPP Makailu Abdulahi, closed the prosecutions’case and the defence opened its case with the 1st accused person, Sherrif Jallow, giving his evidence and cross examined by DDPP, Makailu Abdulahi. During the cross-examination, the DDPP asked the accused as to whether he was never arraigned before Kanifing Magistrates Court on criminal charges of kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms.

The accused denied this statement, which made the DDPP to apply for the registrar of the Kanifing Magistrates Court to produce files in court with regards to the records of the accused, so as to verify the claim by the accused.

The application was granted by the presiding judge, Justice Richards, who made order for the Kanifing Magistrates Court to make the said files available before the SCC, saying he is interested to know what happened to the said criminal case before the subordinate court. According to Justice Richards, he was aware of the case but he didn’t know how the case ended, noting that the wheel of justice grinds slowly but it grinds very well.