One Haddy Cham, former employee of the Arab Gambia Islamic Bank (AGIB), has dragged the bank to the Industrial Tribunal at Kanifing.
The plaintiff, Haddy Cham, is claiming that the termination of her employment without due process was unlawful.
The plaintiff prayed to the tribunal for an order for the payment of her salaries up to retirement age.
Haddy Cham further claimed 27 percent interest from the date of the termination to date of judgment. Also interest at 4 percent from the date of judgment to the date of settlement as well as costs have been claimed by the plaintiff.
To give weight to her claims, the plaintiff called her witness, one Buba Sanyang, to testify in her favour.
In his testimony, the witness told the tribunal that he lives in Busumbala, and that he knew the plaintiff and the defendant.
He adduced that he was working with the plaintiff, Haddy Cham, at the said bank, adding that he was the head of the security at the Westfield branch of the bank.
He stated that the plaintiff was the head of the cashiers, noting that he worked together with the plaintiff at the Westfield branch.
He further told the court that he attended a meeting in which the affairs of the plaintiff were discussed, adding that the branch manager, one Sally Sarr, had informed him that there would be a meeting, and he should try and attend it, which took place and which he attended.
He further testified that, during the meeting, the Managing Director, one Sirajo, called one Awa Cham and asked her to explain about the plaintiff, concerning some missing money.
He added that Awa Cham had said that there was money missing in the vault, and that it was the plaintiff who took the money.
“She said there were some vouchers of the plaintiff missing,” the witness also told the tribunal.
He revealed that Awa Cham was the head of Audit at the Westfield branch, adding that the overall audit manager, one Sahid, and Jainaba Jammeh, who was one of the senior auditors in Banjul, cashiers of Westfield Branch and bank clerks, attended the meeting.
He told the tribunal that the plaintiff was asked to bring money from the vault, which was done, and it was counted openly and taken back to the vault.
He also to adduced that the following day, the plaintiff wrote to him as head of security, stating in her letter that Awa Cham had seen the missing vouchers.
At this juncture, the witness was shown the said letter by the plaintiff’s counsel, Kebba Sanyang, which he identified.
The plaintiff’s counsel applied to tender the said letter.
His application was granted, and the letter was marked as an exhibit.
Still continuing his testimony, the witness told the tribunal that the plaintiff was asked to report to the main office in Banjul, adding that the plaintiff had later informed him that her service was terminated, because of the missing vouchers.
The case was adjourned till 14 July 2011, for cross-examination.
