Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL) – In a significant development in the case of Kumba Sinyan, the young entrepreneur charged with the murder of her boyfriend Lamarana Jallow, a former staff member of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), a medical report has confirmed that Sinyan is mentally well and fit to stand trial.
According to the medical report, Sinyan has no history of mental illness. However, it is recommended that she undergo monthly follow-ups to monitor her mental health.
The question of Sinyan’s mental fitness arose when Senior Counsel Sagarr C.T. Twum, representing Sinyan, filed a motion under section 24 of the Constitution and section 29 of the Women’s Act. The motion requested a professional evaluation of Sinyan’s mental and psychological state before she testifies, citing concerns about her mental well-being.
The motion was supported by a five-paragraph affidavit from Dawda Sowe, a legal clerk at Harriet Martha (H.M.) Ndow Law Chambers. In response, Justice Sidi K. Jobarteh approved the request and ordered that Sinyan be evaluated at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital. The assessment was to determine her mental status and ascertain if she was fit to enter her defense, with the report to be submitted directly to the court.
Justice Jobarteh’s ruling led to Sinyan’s evaluation, which confirmed her fitness for trial. Sinyan, charged under section 187 of the Criminal Code Cap: 10:01 Revised Laws of the Gambia 2009, now faces the prospect of defending herself in court.
The case continues to garner significant public attention due to its serious nature and the involvement of prominent legal figures. The confirmation of Sinyan’s mental fitness is a crucial step as the trial proceeds.
