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Bun & co trial continues

Nov 3, 2010, 11:59 AM | Article By: Malamin Conteh

The criminal trial involving Ibrahim Bun Sanneh and four others yesterday continued at the High Court in Banjul before Justice Amadi, with the cross-examination of the eigth prosecution witness (PW8) by defence counsel Pap Cheyassin Secka.

Responding to questions by counsel, the witness, Dodou Jatta, told the court that he could not remember the exact date he and the 4th accused, Marie Sanneh, went to effect the second payment at the NDEA office in Banjul.

Defence counsel then put it to the witness that the second payment was made on 29th February 2010, and that the 4th accused made a receipt on the very day she received the money. The witness, however, maintained that he never received any receipt with regard to the second payment.

The witness also adduced under cross-examination that he could not tell whether the second receipt was prepared in the name of his father. He told the court that his father told him that he did not receive any receipt from the 4th accused, for the second payment.

Defence counsel Secka, however, told the witness that his father in his evidence-in-chief told the court that he received two receipts. The witness insisted that he only saw one receipt, and this was the only receipt.

The case at that juncture was adjourned till 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th December 2010.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Richard Chenge, led a team of state prosecutors in the trial.             

Ibrahim Bun Sanneh, former Executive Director of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) and his co-accused persons, are facing a 30-count charge, which they all denied.

The other accused persons are Karamo Bojang, former Deputy Executive Director of NDEA, Ousman Sanneh, former NDEA Director of Operations, Seedy Bojang, former NDEA Accountant, and Ms Marie Sanneh.

The counts range from conspiracy to commit felony, stealing by person in public service, aiding and abetting, unlawful possession of fire arm, unlawful possession of live ammunitions, concealment and destroying of evidence, official corruption, to abuse of office and committing economic crimes, obtaining money by false pretence, and making document without authority, and forgery.