Two NIA Officers Charged

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.