Setback at former NDEA officials trial

The case involving Ibrahim Bun Sanneh, former National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) executive director, Karamo Bojang former deputy director of the agency and Ousman Sanneh, the agency’s former commissioner of operations, yesterday suffered another setback at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.

When the case was called, lawyer Moses Richards who held brief for defence counsel Kebba Sanyang, told the court that the counsel in the case was busy at the high court in the case involving the same accused persons.

He added that he was instructed by counsel Sanyang to apply for the court to adjourn the case till a suitable day.

In response, state counsel Ms Jobe told the court that she was holding brief for the state, and was not opposed to the application for an adjournment.

The case was subsequently adjourned to 16 February 2012.

According to the particulars of offence on count one, Ibrahim Bun Sanneh, Karamo Bojang and Ousman Sanneh, between the period of 17 April 2007 and sometime in 2009, in Banjul and at various places in The Gambia, conspired to destroy two kilos of cocaine, being evidence in the prosecution of Illidia Barbosa Dacosta, and thereby committed an offence.

Count two stated that Ibrahim Bun Sanneh and Ousman Sanneh, sometime in 2009 in Banjul and other places in The Gambia, whilst being employed in the public services of The Gambia, and being charged with the duty of drug law-enforcement, directed for the reimbursement of the plea bargain money to Illidia Dacosta, against the court ruling, and thereby prejudicing the right of the NDEA to maintain the proceeds of the plea bargain.

The charge sheet on count three stated that Ibrahim Bun Sanneh and Ousman Sanneh between 17 April 2008 and 18 December 2008, in Banjul and other places within the jurisdiction of the court, whilst employed in the public service of The Gambia, directed for the withdrawal of the case of NDEA against one Illidia Barbosa Dacosta, in abuse of authority of their office and, in effect, prejudicing the right of the NDEA to prosecute the said Illidia Barbosa Dacosta.

Furthermore, count four stated that Ibrahim Bun Sanneh and Karamo Bojang, between 21 January and December 2009, knowing that two kilos of cocaine are required as evidence, in the case of the NDEA against Illidia Barbosa Dacosta, willfully destroyed those two kilos of cocaine, with intent to prevent the said cocaine from being used in evidence, and thereby committed an offence.