The case involving Ibrahim Bun Sanneh, former executive director of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA), Karamo Bojang, former deputy director of the agency and Ousman Sanneh, former commissioner of operations of the agency, was yesterday adjourned at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.
The former officials of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) are being tried on charges of abuse of office, conspiracy to commit felony and destroying evidence.
When the case was called in court Tuesday, the state counsel was absent and the case was subsequently adjourned till 18th January 2012.
However, defence counsel Kebba Sanyang told the court that the accused persons were arraigned before the court on the 22nd December 2011.
He pointed out that since the state was not ready to proceed with the case, the court should discharge the accused persons until such a time the state was ready to proceed with their case.
Counsel added that to bring the accused persons to court without the case proceeding was a waste of energy and time.
According to the particulars of offence on count one, Ibrahim Bun Sanneh, Karamo Bojang and Ousman Sanneh, between 17 April 2007 and sometime in 2009, in
Count two stated that Ibrahim Bun Sanneh and Ousman Sanneh, sometime in 2009 in Banjul and other places in The Gambia, whilst being employed in the public services of The Gambia, and being charged with the duty of drug law-enforcement, directed for the reimbursement of the plea bargain money to Illidia Dacosta, against the court ruling, and thereby prejudicing the right of the NDEA to maintain the proceeds of the plea bargain.
The charge sheet on count three stated that Ibrahim Bun Sanneh and Ousman Sanneh between 17 April 2008 and 18 December 2008 in Banjul and other places within the jurisdiction of the court, whilst employed in public service of The Gambia, directed for the withdrawal of the case of NDEA against one Illidia Barbosa Dacosta, in abuse of authority of their office and, in effect, prejudicing the right of the NDEA to prosecute the said Illidia Barbosa Dacosta.
Furthermore, count four stated that Ibrahim Bun Sanneh and Karamo Bojang, between 21 January and December 2009, knowing that two kilos of cocaine are required as evidence, in the case of the NDEA against Illidia Barbosa Dacosta, willfully destroyed those two kilos of cocaine, with intent to prevent the said cocaine from being used in evidence and thereby committed an offence.