At Commissions of Enquiry… Lead State Counsel Reprimanded

By Ralph Sesay
Lead State counsel, at the ongoing Commissions of Enquiry, and his team have been reprimanded again by Justice Biobele Georgewill for attempting to lead witnesses in the matter, over the management of different projects by the former Minister of Youth Affairs, Bai Mamoud Bangura, without adequately serving the defense well ahead of time.
Defense counsel for the persons of interest, just after the announcement of the matter involving the former Youth Minister, notified the Commission that his client, the former Youth Minister, was served only twenty hours to the hearings.
The letter of invitation to his client, according to defense counsel, had stated that the state will have to lead an Anti-Corruption witness against his client. He objected against the backdrop that the ACC is investigating his client for the past five months and they have not been able, as a Commission, to prefer charges against his client.
He asked for the direction of the Commissioner on whether the ACC’s case and that of the Commission will be the same. Defense counsel noted that it will be too much on his client to be investigated by both the COI and the ACC on the same matter.
Responding, Justice Biobele noted that the Commission is not a criminal court and that he wants to assure the defense that his client is assured of justice. He reprimanded the state counsel on the issue of late serving of documents to the other side, noting that he will not be part of such practice.
The sole Commissioner noted that clients should be adequately served before any hearings and consequent upon this he could not go on with the matter.
He directed that state counsel served the clients properly and adequately and also makes a public notice so that all interested parties will appear on Monday for the hearings.
Justice Biobele closed the day’s hearings by reemphasizing that he is determined to do what is right; and when he feels that he cannot handle anything he will prefer to resign and quit.
“I will not do anything that will jeopardize the peace of this country. I advise all persons of interest mentioned in my court to come before me. But if they choose not to I will present my report based on what is before me. I will not force anyone to come before me,” Justice Biobele concluded.