Court revokes Commissioner Demba's bail

Immigration Department Commissioner Lang Demba got his bail revoked on Monday by Principal Magistrate Emmanuel Nkea of the Banjul Magistrates' Court, after he failed to appear for the day’s scheduled hearing.

Commissioner Demba is currently standing trial on a charge of stealing by servant or clerk, contrary to the laws of The Gambia. 

When the case resumed on Monday, the prosecuting police officer, Sergeant Camara informed the court that the prosecution intended to proceed with its witness.

He added that the accused person was not in court, and that he did not communicate to the prosecution that he will not be in court for Monday's sitting.

At that point, the trial magistrate said the accused person could not absent himself from the court without giving official notice to the court.

He issued a bench warrant for Commissioner Demba to be arrested and taken into custody.

The case was then adjourned to 18th June 2010.

It would be recalled that Commissioner Demba between the month of November 2008 to December 2009, while in Liberia on a peace-keeping mission with the Gambian police contingent, allegedly received the total sum of $15,625 from various police officers of the said contingent.

This was their 10% monthly contribution to the Gambia Police Force, which he (Demba) failed to account for or deliver to the police force.