Africa Muslim Agency faces D500,000 claim

Abdel Karim Arrar, an Algerian national, has sued the Africa Muslim Agency at the Kanifing Magistrates' Court claiming D500,000 for unlawful dismissal.

The plaintiff also made a claim for special damages of €134,400 being loss of earnings as a result of breach of contract of employment, as well as interest.

The plaintiff's particulars of claim stated that, by agreement dated 2nd April 1994, he was employed as an accountant at the agency's Gambia office at a monthly salary of $400 together with other allowances.

The plaintiff, further claimed that he was hired from Algeria by the defendant, sent to Kenya on training before executing the agreement dated 2nd April 1994, and reporting to the Gambia office.

It was also stated in the plaintiff's claim that he had worked for the defendant at the Gambia office for 16 years and, during this period, his salary was increased several times.

The plaintiff also revealed in his claim that between 1994 and 1998, the defendant paid him a monthly salary of $ 400; from 1998 to 2004, he was paid $475, from 2004 to 2006 he received $575 as his salary and from 2006 to July 2010, he was paid €880.

The plaintiff further claimed that during the sixteen years he served the defendant in The Gambia, he was never suspended, queried, warned or otherwise reprimanded by his employer for whatever reason whatsoever.

The particulars of claim also stated that the plaintiff "diligently served the defendant with utmost good faith" at all times.

The plaintiff expressed his resentment that the defendant without warning, and in total contravention of the contract signed between the parties, wrongfully terminated his services.

Lawyer Lamin Ceesay represented the plaintiff.