Lamin Jammeh, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Brikama Area Councl, has being charged with giving false information to a public officer, contrary to section 114 (a) of the criminal code cap 10 volume III laws of the Gambia 1990.

According to the particulars of the offence, the accused Lamin Jammeh between the month of January 2007 and March 2008 at Sukuta Jobe Kunda by a letter reference MLJ/Co8/19/2008 informed the Secretary General that his service with the Brikama Area Council was unlawful terminated.

He did this, according to the particulars, when he knew or had reasons to believe to be false. He did that with the intention to cause or knowing it to likely cause the Secretary General to either compensate or reinstate him which the Secretary General ought not to do if the true state of facts were known to him.

When the case resumed yesterday before Magistrate Lamin George of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, the police prosecutor Sub-Inspector Badjie applied for a bench warrant for the arrest of the accused as he was not in court. He also applied for the bail bond to be forfeited to the State until the accused was produced and also for the defence counsel to produce the medical report of the accused as he claimed that the accused was ill

His surety informed the court that the accused was ill and had travelled to Senegal for medical treatment.

The ‘s application was not granted, but instead the court warned the surety that she would be given one week to produce the accused or else she would be made to forfeit the bail bond she had signed for the accused.

The case was adjourned until 16th October 2008. 

The beggars, who are believed to be Gambians and Senegalese,were arrested during a raiding exercise by the police in different parts of Banjul.

Confirming the story, the Public Relations Officer of the Gambia Police Force, ASP Sulayman Secka said the police arrested 24 beggars of which 17 of them are Gambians, while 7 of them are Senegalese.

The police spokesperson added that the beggars are charged with the offence of common nuisance and obstruction on public highway, contrary to the Road and Highway Act.

“We didn’t arrest those in the mosques but those who loiter around. As a beggar you don’t expect to be loitering everywhere, disturbing people even at their working places. That would not be tolerated,” he added.

He said the police are even safeguarding the lives of the beggars because the beggars could be involved in accidents at any moment. “Even standing on the public highway for begging is a serious offence,” he said.

It could be recalled that in 2007 the Banjul Magistrates’ Court convicted some beggars for the obstruction of public highway.

According to the particulars of the offence, some time in May 2008 at the NIA office in the city of Banjul, the accused abused his office by receiving the sum of D51, 000 from one Bubacarr Jallow for safe keeping knowing that the said amount was stolen. He denied the charge.

He was granted court bail in the sum of D100, 000 with one Gambian surety who must be in the rank of a police commissioner.

The case was adjourned until 13thOctober 2008.

In another development two NIA officers Demba Sowe and Bubacarr Jollow who are standing trial for the offence of abuse of office are also expected to make their second appearance today before Magistrate Edrisa Mbai of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.

According to the alleged offence, the two accused persons Demba Sowe and Abubacarr Jallow being public officers employed of the NIA between Ferbruary and March 2008 in Banjul, Kololi and diverse places abused their authority, by failing to disclose vital information and recover exhibits in the case of the State against Christopher Badjie to the relevant authorities, an arbitrary act prejudicial to the State and thereby committed an offence.

They both denied the charge.

The trial of Abdou Aziz Dampha, an agent of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), who was charged with giving false information to a public officer, was on Wednesday adjourned to September 24.

When the case was called before Principal Magistrate Edrisa Mbai of the Banjul Magistrates Court, the prosecution officer, Inspector Keita, applied for an adjournment as his witness was not in court.

According to  Inspector Keita, he intended to call three witnesses but unfortunately all three were then out of the jurisdiction. The police prosecutor was also quick to inform the court that the said witnesses will be within the jurisdiction by the 24th of September 2008.

The presiding magistrate then granted the application and adjourned the case.

Two officers of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Demba Sowe and Abubacarr Jallow were last Friday arraigned before Magistrate Edrisa Mbai on a charge of abuse of office.

According to the particulars of the offence, the two accused persons between February and March 2008, in Banjul, Kololi and diverse places abused their authority by failing to disclose vital information and recover exhibits in the case of the State against Christopher Badjie that are relevant to the authorities, an arbitrary act that is prejudicial to the State and thereby committed an offence.

They denied the charge.

Superintendent Tijan Badjie, prosecuting officer, told the court they are objecting to bail for the accused persons on the grounds that the investigators into the case have informed the prosecution that the matter is under investigation.

He said even though the offence allegedly committed is a bailable one, the investigators had informed the prosecution that the accused persons are very influential at their workplace and there is fear that they might tamper with the investigation.

For his part, defence counsel Lamin Camara said there is a substantive charge against the accused persons and that the investigation had ended; that is why there is a charge before the court. He said the offence alleged to have been committed is said to have happened six months back, adding that the accused persons were under the NIA bail prior to their appearance in court. He said the reason advanced by the prosecution is not reasonable enough to deny the accused bail.

The court later granted bail to the accused in the sum of D10, 000 each with two Gambian sureties one of whom must be a director of NIA or a police commissioner.

The case was adjourned until 29th September 2008.

One Alhagie Jallow of Latrikunda was on 15th September 2008 arraigned before Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court charged with being found in possession of suspected stolen property.

According to the particulars of the offence, the accused Abdoulie Jallow on 4th August 2008 at Latrikunda Sabiji was found being in possession of suspected stolen driving licence, National ID Card and four passport photos, a charge he denied.

Meanwhile he was granted court bail in the sum of D5000.

In a separate development one Kebba Taal of Gunjur was also on 15th September 2008 arraigned at the Brikama Magistrates ’Court charged with assault causing actual bodily harm contrary to section 228 of the criminal code.

The fact of the alleged offence indicated that on 15th September 2008, Kebba Taal assaulted one Alagie Gassama by hitting him with his walking stick thereby causing him actual bodily harm.

Hearing continues.

At least four police officers posted at the Bundung Police Station were on Tuesday 16th September 2008 arraigned before the Bundung Magistrates’ Court on a charge of aiding prisoners to escape from lawful custody.

Officers Lamin Jammeh, Sissawo Badjie, Sheikh Sowe and Dawda Jallow stand accused of aiding Saikou Keita, Seedy Kanteh, Momodou Kumba Gaye, Ousman Touray, Madi Sowe, Alieu Kanteh, Sulayman Senghore, Lamin Manneh, Muhammed Jonga, Essa Sowe and Samba Badjie to effect their escape while under detention at the Bundung Police Station.

When the case was mentioned, the presiding Magistrate, Kumba Sillah-Camara, asked the accused persons whether they intend to hire the services of a lawyer before taking their pleas and all responded in the positive. The fourth accused person, Dawda Jallow, told the court since the incident occured, on the 11th September 2008, they were all in detention and were never informed that they had been charged.

At that juncture the presiding Magistrate adjourned the case to the 24th September to enable them to secure the services of a lawyer, but ordered that they be remanded in custody until the next adjourned date.

One Lamin Manneh, a suspected Guinean living in Brufut, was arraigned before the Bundung Magistrates Court, presided over by Senior Magistrate Kumba Sillah-Camara, charged on two counts.

Count one states that Mr Manneh broke into the house of one Saikou Fatty, with the intention to commit felony. And on count two, the accused allegedly stole the following items: a pair of short jean trousers; a pair of long jean trousers; one long sleeve shirt; one short sleeve shirt; a pair of sports shoes; and a radio player, all belonging to Saikou Fatty.
The accused has pleaded guilty to both counts.

According to the facts of the case, the complainant had gone on a breakfast shopping spree when, before his return home, some of his properties went missing.

The plaintiff’s immediate suspect happened to be the accused, since he was said to have made several attempts to steal in the same compound. He [the accused] was later arrested, after the matter was reported to the Brufut Police Intervention Post.

It later emerged that he had since sold the stolen items to some unknown person, something he admitted before the court, asking for justice to be tempered with mercy.
Senior Magistrate KS Camara eventually found the accused guilty on counts one and two, and he was subsequently convicted.

In her judgment, on count one, the judge sentenced the accused to one-year imprisonment, with hard labour, without any option of a fine. And on count two, he was sentenced to one year imprisonment, in addition to a fine of D5,000, as compensation for the complainant, in default of which fine the convict would serve six months imprisonment.

All sentences shall run consecutively, after which the convict is set to be deported to Guinea-Bissau, unless he is able to present his Gambian national ID card, as he had, during the trial, claimed to be a Gambia citizen.
Corporal 1781 Kinteh represented the IGP.