Principal Magistrate Tabally of the Banjul Magistrate’s Court had threatened to discharge Abdoulie Manneh, ex-permanent secretary at the Department of Lands and Surveys and Malamin Jatta, Director of Lands and Surveys, if the prosecution fails to proceed with the case at the next adjournment date.
When the case was called, the prosecuting officer, Superintendent Sainey B. Joof, told the court that the prosecution was applying for an adjournment on the grounds that the case file was still with the Attorney General’s Chambers.
However, the trial magistrate told the court that since the case started nothing has been done so far, and that the trial had been dragging for long.
He added that it was not fair to prefer charges against the accused persons without proceeding with the case, and that it was better for the court to discharge the accused persons until such time the prosecution was ready to proceed with their case.
He then adjourned the case untill 17 November 2011, for hearing.
It was alleged that Manneh and Jatta, in 2006, at the department of Lands and Surveys in Banjul, being employed by virtue of their positions as Director of Lands and Surveys, abused their office by allocating a pilot of land at Old Jeshwang belonging to one Alhagie Karamu Mustapha Ceesay (Alkalo) to Elton Petrol Company without his consent, and thereby committed an offence.
Furthermore, it stated that the ex-PS and Director of Lands and Surveys, allegedly facilitated the transfer of ownership of various plots of land to Malamin Kala Bojang, Sheriff Kuyateh and Aji Amie John respectively without following proper procedures, and thereby committed an offence.