14 Immigration Officers Plead Not Guilty

At least 14 Immigration Officers attached at the Gambia International Airport, three other civilians and a GCAA Security Officer, who were arrested and charged with alleged forgery and official corruption yesterday Monday 3rd August 2009, pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Fred Forster of the Brikama Magistrates' Court.

The eighteen accused persons, according to the charge sheet, on or about the 3rd July, 2009, at the Gambia International Airport within the jurisdiction of the court, allegedly forged an international passport in order to dishonestly enable one Ebrima Bah, to travel to the United States of America, and thereby commit an offence.

In count two, they were alleged to have conspired to commit official corruption.

According to the charge sheet, the accused being public officers employed in the public services of The Gambia, charged with the duties of screening passengers traveling at the airport, allegedly conspired among themselves and others still at large, to corruptly receive a bribery of ten thousand and five hundred dalasi (D10, 500) from one Cherno Bah in order to enable his brother Ebrima Bah dishonestly use a forged passport to travel to USA, and thereby committed an offence.

The accused persons: OC Kaddy Jabbang, Chief Inspector Aloya Jammeh, Inspector Matida Camara, Inspector Mbaka Janneh, Cadet Modou L. Manneh, Ebrima Sillah, Abdou Jatta, Mam Kumba Jamanka, Baboucarr Bajinka, Kinteh Jammeh, Lamin Sonko, Foday Ceesay, Modou L. Jarjue, Ebrima Jallow, Muhammed Allen, Cherno Bah, Sarjor Sonko and Ebrima Bah, were earlier granted bail in the sum of D80, 000 each, with two Gambian sureties who must have a Gambian Identity Card, except Ebrima Bah who was released at a bail bond of D50,000.

The case was adjourned to 11th August 2009 for hearing.