When the case was called, the state counsel told the court they were asking for an adjournment to put their house in order, as they could not find the indictment file.
The defence counsel, LS Camara, also told the court he was not aware of being served with the indictment file, after the case was heard at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court since on 18 November 2014 and transferred to the high court.
The state should have been in possession of the file by now, he said.
The trial judge then said since the state was yet to file the indictment, he would adjourn the case till 10 December for mention and ruling.
According to the particulars of offence in count one, Ousman Badjie between 14 and 30 June 2014 in Banjul and diverse places, whilst being The Gambia’s Head of Mission in France, intentionally failed to pursue the case of a stolen twenty-seven thousand Euros equivalent to D1,134,000, involving one Faisal Bojang, with the French Government, an omission which was shown to be detrimental to the economy of The Gambia, and thereby committed an offence.
The prosecutors further alleged that Badjie, under count two, whilst serving as the Head of Mission in France, willfully neglected to perform his duty for the French Government to pursue Faisal Bojang, to recover an amount of €27,000 embezzled (equivalent to D1,134,000), and thereby committed an offence.
Badjie it was further alleged, in count three, that in the same month and year, whilst being The Gambia’s Head of Mission in France, he willfully neglected to perform his duty to pursue the police declaration that the signature of the Deputy Head of Mission was forged, and thereby committed an offence.
