By Lamin Sanyang
Magistrate Surahata Danso of Brikamaba Magistrates’ Court has been released from detention last Friday, December 2nd 2016 after the election results were announced, The Fatu Network can reveal.
Mr. Danso was first arrested and detained at Brikama-ba police station on Tuesday, November 1st, 2016. He was later transferred to the Serious Crime Unit at the Police Headquarters in Banjul where he has since been detained.
“They have released him without any charge,” said a family source.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Danso could not be reach for comments.
Detention without charged and bail contradicts the dictates of the Constitutions of The Gambia and a total violation of his rights. The 1997 Constitution of The Gambia says a person should not be detained for more than 72 hours without been charged before a competent court of law or granted bail.
The Gambian magistrates and judges are pruned to arrest and detention when they fail to heed to executive directives by President Jammeh to jail innocent people. Each time they deliver verdicts and it doesn’t go down well with the State they are arrested, detained, charged and dismissed and subjected to emotional torture.
In August, 2016, the country’s first and only visually impaired Magistrate Muhammed Krubally was dismissed. His dismissal letter came after he already left the country to attend The World Blind Union Conference in the United States of America. He was accused of ruling against the state in a case that the President personally had interest in.
In early September 2016, Gambia’s youngest Magistrate Omar Jabang of the Banjul Magistrates Court also fled the shores of The Gambia to the United States. He was arrested and detained at the Serious Crime Unit in Banjul following his ruling on a no case to answer where he acquitted and discharged one Yusupha Saidy, a businessman.
After his arrest and detention, Jabang was later dismissed and later reinstated on condition that he must heed to the wishes of the Presidency and jailed anyone that the regime wants or risked being arrested, dismissed, charged and prosecuted for abuse of office.
The Gambian Judiciary lacks independence and dances to the tune of President Yahya Jammeh.
Meanwhile, the dictator has now fallen and Gambians expect rigorous judicial changes to ensure that the law is violated anymore and Gambia people’s rights are respected.
