High Court Judge, Justice Ebrima Jaiteh, on Tuesday nearly ordered the committal of State Counsel S.L. Jobarteh to Mile 2 Prison for contempt of court following a tense exchange during proceedings in the Banta Keita case.
The incident unfolded while Defence Counsel S.M. Tambedou was presenting and reading several affidavits into the record without objection from the prosecution. However, when the State began its response, Counsel Jobarteh rose to make submissions, prompting objections from the defence.
Justice Jaiteh instructed Jobarteh to pause and allow the defence to raise its objections. Jobarteh, however, declined to comply, asserting that he was an officer of the court and alleging that he had not been treated fairly by the bench.
Despite repeated directives from the judge to halt his address, Jobarteh continued speaking, leading to a heated exchange in the courtroom. In response, Justice Jaiteh warned that he would commit the State Counsel to Mile 2 Prison for contempt.
“I think I need to send this counsel to Mile 2 Prison to show him that I am not his mate,” the judge stated.
Senior lawyers present in court, including Defence Counsel Tambedou and senior counsel Badou Conteh, quickly intervened, urging Jobarteh to comply with the court and remain silent. Their appeals initially failed to deter him.
As Justice Jaiteh began taking steps to formalize the committal order, the senior counsel pleaded for leniency, urging the court to temper justice with mercy and to resolve the matter in chambers.
“Please, I beg you in the name of God, please do not send him to Mile 2,” senior counsel Conteh appealed.
Following these interventions, Justice Jaiteh relented. The matter was subsequently adjourned to chambers, and proceedings in the Banta Keita case were unable to continue for the rest of the day.
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