Yankuba Touray’s Appeal Case Adjourned To October

By Landing Ceesay

The appeal case of former junta member, Yankuba Touray is adjourned to 10^th October 2022 for adoption of arguments.

On 14^th July 2021, the High Court of the Gambia found Yankuba Touray guilty of the murder of former Finance Minister, Ousman Koro Ceesay and sentenced him to death by hanging.

On Monday 6^th of June 2022, Yankuba Touray appeared in the Court of Appeal contesting the High Court decision.

On the anniversary of his conviction (14^th  June 2022), Yankuba Touray’s lawyer Abdoulie Sisoho was ordered by the President of the Court of Appeal of the Gambia, Justice Na Ceesay Salla-Wadda to provide missing pages in the High Court’s judgement and his brief of argument at the Court.

During today’s hearing, Lawyer Sisoho confirmed to the court that he already provided the missing documents and that he served the respondent.

The State Counsel Muhammad B. Sowe confirmed to the court of receiving the missing pages in High Court’s judgement against Yankuba Touray.

Asked how long he would need to file his brief of arguments, Yankuba Touray’s lawyer said he would need 28 days to file his brief of argument that will expire on 26^th of July 2022.

The State Counsel Muhammad B. Sowe said he would also need 28 days to file a reply to the brief of argument of Yankuba Touray’s lawyer that will expire on 25^th of August 2022.  

The President of the Court of Appeal of the Gambia, Justice Na Ceesay Salla-Wadda gave Yankuba’s Lawyer 7 days to file another brief of argument in response to the state counsel’s submission, if he wishes so.

Then Justice Salla-Wadda adjourned the case to 10^th October 2022 for the adoption of the arguments on the appeal.

Muhammad B. Sowe is the lawyer representing the state; while Lawyer Abdoulie Sissoho is representing Yankuba Touray in the case before Justice Na Ceesay Salla -Wadda, President of the Court of Appeal of the Gambia, Justice Haddy Roche and Justice Basiru Mahoney.

Yankuba Touray,  former Minister of Local Government and Lands under the APRC government was tried and convicted on a criminal charge of the murder of Ousman Koro, former Finance Minister of the Junta, after refusing to testify at the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) on circumstances surrounding the death of Ceesay in 1995, which certain TRRC witnesses alleged took place at Yankuba Touray’s house; and the witnesses further alleged that Touray participated in the killing of the young man.