Three men namely, Mbemba Adama Sagnia, Alpha Ba Sacho and Mobeenia (at large) were Wednesday arraigned before Magistrate Jobarteh of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, charged with economic crime, conspiracy and cheating.
According to the particulars of offence on count one, the accused persons, Mbemba Adama Sagnia, Alpha Ba Sacho and Mobeenia, between November 2012 and April 2013 at Kotu in the Kanifing Municipality, operated a SIM Box Mini-gateway for international calls termination, and thereby caused the Gambia government to lose D31,192,883.33 on the 2,328,869,902 minutes they consumed, knowing or having reason to believe that the activity was illegal.
Count two read that in the same month and year, and at the same place, the accused persons conspired and defrauded the government of D31,192,883.33 on the 2,328,869,902 minutes they consumed, knowing or having reason to believe that the activity was illegal.
The particulars of offence on count three stated that the accused persons, on the same month, year and at the same place, cheated the government of D31,192,883.33 on the 2,328,869,902 minutes they consumed, knowing or having reason to believe that the activity was illegal.
Magistrate Jobarteh told the court that his court does not have the jurisdiction to hear the case.
He therefore transferred the case to the high court in Banjul, and remanded the accused persons.
