Charges against Hon. Seedy Njie dropped

The three-count charges of stealing preferred against Hon. Seedy S.K. Njie, a nominated Member of the National Assembly have been dropped.

Hon. Njie was on Monday arraigned before Magistrate Hilary U. Abeke of the Banjul Magistrates' Court, and pleaded not guilty to all the counts. He was granted a court bail in the sum of D500, 000 with two Gambian sureties.

When the case was called yesterday, the prosecuting officer, Inspector Keita, told the court that the prosecution is applying under Section 68 sub-section (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code to withdraw the charges against the accused person.

Though the prosecutor did not advance any reason(s) for withdrawing the charges, he told the court that this section empowers the prosecution to withdraw the case against the accused person.

In his ruling on the prosecution's application, the trial magistrate said since the prosecution is applying to withdraw the charges against the accused person the court has no option, but to drop the case.

It would be recalled that Hon. Njie was charged with theft. According to the particulars of the offence on count one, Hon. Seedy S.K. Njie in the month of March 2009 in the Kanifing Municipality, acting in the capacity of Deputy Coordinator of the National Patriotic Students Association (NAPSA), with intent to defraud stole an amount of D28, 000, being money for the payment of NAPSA congress members' accommodation at NYSS.

Count two stated that in the year 2009 in the Kanifing Municipality, Hon. Seedy Njie stole D18,n 000, being money for the hiring of the NAPSA mini-bus to Banjul International Airport by tourists, which he failed to tender, and diverted it to his personal use.

Count three stated that in the year 2009, in the Kanifing Municipality, with intent to defraud, Hon. Seedy Njie stole D10, 000 from the proceeds of hiring the NAPSA mini-bus to Kaolack.