Two Somali-British nationals recently nabbed by state security personnel were yesterday arraigned at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court and charged with economic crime specific offences.
Principal Magistrate Hilary Abeke, however, transferred the case to the Special Criminal Court division of the High Court which has jurisdiction.
The prosecutors alleged that the two Somali-British nationals, Abdourazak Hazi and Faizal Ahmed Jama, on 12 November 2013 in the city of Banjul and diverse places, without due authority were found operating a SIM box- mini gateway which caused an economic loss to the Gambia government to the tune of D118,169,360, and thereby committed an offence.
The prosecuting police officer, Corporal Saja Sanyang, then told the court that the case was just for mention and applied for it to be transferred to the Special Criminal Court division of the High Court for trial. He added that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to try the matter.
The application was granted and the trial magistrate ordered that the case be transferred to the Special Criminal Court division of the high court for trial.
Meanwhile, the accused persons were remanded in prison custody, pending the transfer.
