2 discharged and acquitted

Babucarr Marong and Yahya Barry were recently acquitted and discharged by Justice Amie Joof of the High Court in Banjul.

According to the particulars of offence between 2007 and 2010, in the Basse Administrative Area, Upper River Region, while in the employment of the Gambia Telecommunications Company Limited, the accused persons, Babucarr Marong and Yahya Barry, allegedly caused the loss of D1,163,213.00, being the property of the Gambia Telecommunications Company.

In delivering her judgment, Justice Joof stated that the prosecution called witnesses in support of their case and tendered exhibits, while the accused persons also opened their defence and testified on their own.

The judge added that it was not in dispute that the accused persons were public officers but there was no evidence to show they had caused loss to the state.

She stated that she found the evidence of the prosecution insufficient, adding that the law required that if there was doubt it should be resolved in favour of the accused.

She added that the prosecution had failed to prove their case against the accused persons and she consequently acquitted and discharged them accordingly.