SABALLY IN COURT, REMANDED AT NIA

Author: Binta A Bah, standard.gm

After being detained for over a month, Momodou Sabally was yesterday afternoon arraigned before the high court in Banjul.

State prosecutors have slammed one count of economic crime and two counts of abuse of office charges against the former secretary general and minister for presidential affairs, all relating to a Youth Career Development Programme organised by one Mariama Sillah in May 2014.

Mr Sabally, 40, is accused of causing economic loss to SSHFC in the amount of D402,500 by unduly influencing SSHFC to fund the programme without the recourse to due process. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

However, his request to be released on bail was denied by Justice Abdullahi Mikailu who ordered him to be remanded at the National Intelligence Agency after the prosecution said the investigations into his matter were ongoing.

 “I want an order to leave the accused in the custody of the NIA owing to the fact that the investigation in relation to the accused person is ongoing. We want the court to give an order to this effect,” the director of public prosecution told the court.  

Mr Sabally who was not represented by a lawyer told the court: “I have been detained for five weeks during which I cooperated with the investigators… I have a wife and children.

Lawyer Seeks Bail for ex-Finance Minister

Mambury Njie

By Binta A Bah

Lawyer Lamin S Camara has seek for the release of former Minister of Finance and Secretary General, Mambury Njie on bail yesterday at the High Court in Banjul.

The affidavit in support of bail sworned by the accused wife urged the court to use it ‘discretion’ and warrant the accused bail.

“The applicant has been on bail before in connection with these charges by both the Banjul Magistrate Court and the High Court,” Camara submitted.

Njie, Ex- Minister is standing trial on two counts of economic crime and neglect of duty.

He is accused of recklessly causing the Gambia Government loss, by failing to advise government on matters pertaining to mining operations of Carnegie Minerals Gambia Limited between 2001 and 2006 while he was the Secretary General and head of Civil Servant.

Lawyer Lamin Camara

Allegations he strongly denied.

“The applicant won’t interfere with investigation. He has no prior criminal record and most importantly he will not jump bail because his travelling documents are with the NIA” He said.

Ex-Finance Minister MAMBURY NJIE Remanded

 The high court in Banjul has remanded former Finance and Economic Affairs Minister and ex-diplomat, Mr. Mambury Njie, two weeks after he was re-arrested.

His remand came after he pleaded not guilty to two counts of economic crime and neglect of duty this morning before Justice Abdallah.

Njie has been accused of recklessly causing the Gambia Government loss, by failing to advise government on matters pertaining to mining operations of Carnegie Minerals Gambia Limited between 2001 and 2006 while he was the Secretary General and head of Civil Servant.

Former justice minister on bail: As fresh charges were preferred against him

Lamin Jobateh, former justice minister

 High Court in Banjul has released the former justice minister on bail to the tune of D3 million with two Gambian sureties.Jobarteh has moved one step toward his freedom.The former minister has spend several week behind bars until his bail yesterday.

Lamin Jobarteh was indicted yesterday July, 24, with fresh charges ranging from giving false information, economic crime, abuse of office, wrongfully retaking possession of land, forcible entry and operating a business without license before Justice Emmanuel Nkea of the Special Criminal Division.

He is accused of ordering and assisting the arrest and detention of Alieu Barry and Bernd Geoge Diedrich and also Mustapha Kanyi and Yerro Jamanka at Bansag police station.

D2.5 Million Bail Bond for Ex-Finance PS

Serign Cham

Remanded for more than a week at the Mile 2 Central Prison, the ex-Permanent Secretary for Finance has being released on bail to an  amount  of  D2.5 million, one Gambian surety who must deposit his title deed and the accused to deposit all international documents to the registrar at the High Court in Banjul.

His released followed a motion supported by 13 paragraphs file by his counsel, Pap Cheyassin Secka. “The motion states that the accused be granted bail pending the filing of new indictments against him,” Secka added.

“And we are ready, able and willing to satisfy any bail condition,” he adduced.

The ex-PS is yet to enter his plea as the state is yet to file new indictments after the the transfer of the case to the High Court.

It could be recalled that Serign Cham was earlier arraigned at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on Monday 4 July on suspicion of economic crime for allegedly authorizing the sale of a developed plot of land in Kanifing Estate at the sum of D250, 000, 00.

The case continues   October 17, 2011 for hearing.