The Director of Public Prosecutions, S.H. Barkun, yesterday apologised to the court for not bringing his witnesses to testify in the 23-count charge case involving former Lower Saloum NAM Pa Malick Ceesay and Ismaila Njie, former NEDI accountant, before Justice Abi of the Banjul High Court.
When the case was called, DPP Barkun told the court that none of their witnesses was in court, and added that the defence counsel told him in court that the matter was slated for hearing.
He then applied for an adjournment to enable him bring their witness, and apologised for the inconvenience caused.
There was no objection from defence counsel Edward Gomez.
The case continues.
The charges included neglect of official duty, disobedience of a statutory duty, economic crimes, stealing by persons in public service, making false document and uttering false documents.
Ceesay and Njie were first arraigned at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on 14 April and charged with seventeen criminal offences ranging from economic crime, to abuse of office, negligence of official duty and theft, among others.
The case was then transferred to the high court which has the jurisdiction to hear economic crimes charges.
At the high court, the charges were amended and the accused were indicted with 23 criminal charges against them.
The duo denied any wrongdoing, prompting the prosecution, led by the DPP, to apply for an adjournment to call their witnesses in an effort to prove their case.
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