Former Perm Secs Trial Fails to Proceed

The economic crime case involving Dr Badara Loum and Suruwa Jaiteh, both former Permanent Secretaries at the Department of State for Agriculture failed to proceed yesterday at the Banjul High Court before Justice Joseph Wowo.

According to State Counsel S.H Bakun, the matter was set for hearing, and that three witnesses were in the court. He added that one of the Defence Counsel Lamin Camara had informed him through his clerk that he could not make it to the court, because he was sick.

It could be recalled that the duo, both former Permanent Secretaries at the Department of State for Agriculture, are standing trial on a charge of economic crime.

They however denied the charge.

According to the particulars of the alleged offence, "Dr Badara Loum and Suruwa Jaiteh as Permanent Secretaries at the Department of State for Agriculture being the accounting officers thereof and entrusted with the responsibility of distributing and selling 4775 metric tonnes of NPK and 2229 metric tonnes of Urea fertiliser, valued at D51, 480,100, wilfuly or by omission or recklessly handled the same, and thereby caused the loss of D1, 471,251 to the economy of The Gambia and thereby committed an offence."

Hearing continues.