A high court judge has just ordered for Bubacarr Keita to be transported to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) for his blood sample to be taken for a DNA test in a paternity case.

Mr Keita is standing trial for alledgedly raping his wife’s underaged sister resulting in a pregnancy. He denies the charges.

However, the child involved in the case died on Friday in a tragic circumstances in the Senegalese capital Dakar. 

Gambia Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.

However, Bubacarr Keita’s lawyer responded that the blood samples have been collected before the child passed away on July 8. 

He described the move as very worrying and disturbing, adding that “it could only mean that one blood samples were extracted from a child in coma”. 

He said the blood samples were taken without any independent witness or a representative of the accused.

According to his lawyer, it is totally unacceptable to the accused person because it is against the principles of fair hearing and transparency, adding if the blood extraction of the child is to be subject to DNA examination “it must be done in a manner that inspires truth and confidence and not behind closed doors.”

He said compliance with the order of the court means extracting blood samples from the three parties after it was ordered.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba