Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Proceedings in the Banta Keita case were abruptly halted on Wednesday after a tense courtroom confrontation saw High Court Judge Justice Ebrima Jaiteh threaten to commit State Counsel S.L. Jorbateh to Mile 2 Prison for contempt of court.
The incident unfolded while defense counsel Sheriff M. Tambedou was presenting a series of affidavits. The prosecution raised no objections during the defence’s submissions.
However, tensions escalated when Jorbateh rose to respond on behalf of the State. During his address, Tambedou objected to aspects of the prosecution’s arguments, prompting Justice Jaiteh to direct Jorbateh to allow the defense to be heard.
Jorbateh refused to yield, insisting he was an officer of the court and accusing the judge of unfair treatment. Despite repeated instructions from the bench, he continued his submissions, triggering a heated exchange.
At the height of the confrontation, Justice Jaiteh warned he would take punitive action. “I think I need to send this counsel to Mile 2 Prison to show him that I am not his mate,” the judge declared.
Senior lawyers present, including Tambedou and Badou Conteh, intervened in an attempt to defuse the situation. They pleaded with Jorbateh to comply with the court’s directives and urged the judge to exercise restraint.
Even as tensions persisted, the senior counsels appealed for leniency, asking the court to temper justice with mercy. Conteh made an emotional plea, urging the judge not to order Jorbateh’s imprisonment.
As Justice Jaiteh prepared to formalize the contempt order, the senior lawyers requested that the matter be stood down and addressed in chambers. The judge subsequently agreed, and proceedings were adjourned, with the case unable to continue in open court.
The altercation marks the second reported clash between Justice Jaiteh and State Counsel Jorbateh in recent months. A similar heated exchange previously occurred during proceedings in the case involving former Lands Minister Abba Sanyang.
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