This was after both of them pleaded not guilty to a 23-count charge ranging from neglect of official duty, disobedience of a statutory duty, economic crimes, stealing by persons in public service, making false document and uttering false documents.
When the case was called before Justice Abi, the DPP said they had filed a new bill of indictment and were ready for plea-taking.
Defence counsel for the accused persons, E.A. Gomez, informed the court that he had been served with the bill of indictment.
The charges were then read to them in court and they both pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Counsel Gomez said he would seek the indulgence of the court to allow the accused persons to continue on their previous bail since it was granted to them by the same court, until he filed a formal bail application on their behalf.
DPP Barkun said he was not objecting to counsel’s application, but was drawing the court’s attention to the amount in the new bill of indictment.
The trial judge then granted bail to Pa Malick Ceesay in the sum of D9 million and Ismaila Njie D6 million with two Gambian sureties each.
The case continues on 9 June 2015, at 3 pm.
The prosecution alleged that the duo, sometime between October 2009 and December 2012, in Banjul and diverse places in The Gambia, whilst being employed as coordinator and accountant of National Enterprise for Development Initiative (NEDI) respectively, willfully neglected to comply with the Gambia Public Procurement Authority regulations when they procured goods worth of D2,400,000 from Farouk Trading.
They were also alleged to have, between the same dates in Banjul and diverse places in The Gambia, willfully disobeyed the GPPA regulations when they procured goods worth of D2,400,000 from Farouk Trading without GPPA’s approval.
They were further alleged to have caused loss to the Gambia Government in the sum of D5,662,290 being loans disbursed to several vendors, which could not be recovered due to inadequate security.
The first accused, Pa Malick Ceesay, was alleged to have, sometime between October 2009 and December 2012, in Banjul and diverse places in the country, whilst being employed as coordinator of NEDI, stole D113,000, being loan repayment made by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The prosecution also alleged that he stole D50,000 being monies collected from one Sainabou Sey meant for repayment of forms and loans.
The former NAMwas also alleged to have stolen D13,000 being money collected from one Modou Ceesay meant for repayment of forms and loans, as well as D39,000 being balance of D60,000 meant to set up business for one Swandu Jallow.
Furthermore, Pa Malick Ceesay was charged with stealing D80,000 being balance of D680,000 disbursed to 60 vendors and thereby committed an offence.
The former NAM was further alleged to have willfully neglected his official duties when he disbursed loan amounting to D325,670 to Oases Fishing Association out of which D313,670 could not be recovered due to inadequate documentation.
The prosecution alleged that he further willfully neglected his official duties when he disbursed loan amounting to D325,670 to Lower Saloum Fishing Association out of which D309,170 could not be recovered due to inadequate documentation.
The duo were alleged to have willfully neglected to perform their official duties when they failed to maintain petty cash vouchers as provided by the financial instructions.
They were also jointly charged for willfully disobeying the financial instruction regulations by failing to maintain petty cash vouchers, whilst Pa Malick Ceesay further alleged to have stolen D3,000 being balance of D10,000 meant for the servicing of official vehicles and purchasing of beverages.
The prosecution alleged that the erstwhile NAM further stole a U20 machine, a drawing machine, a picas sewing machine, and a grofil machine, valued at D50,000 meant for one Swandu Jallow’s tailoring shop.
The former NAM was also alleged to have stolen D5,000 being balance of D19,000 meant for payment of trek allowance.
He was also alleged to have stolen D28,500 being balance of D75,000 meant for payment of trek allowance to NEDI and Ministry of Youth and Sports staff.
He was also alleged to have caused loss to the Gambian government when he stole U20 machine, grofil machine, drawing machine and a picas sewing machine all valued at D81,000, an act, which was detrimental to the economy of The Gambia.
The prosecution alleged that he also caused loss to the Gambian government in the sum of D116,500 when he stole money received for different transactions, an act which is detrimental to the economy of The Gambia.
Pa
Malick Ceesay was also charged for making a receipt of D60,000.00 purported to
be rent for Swandu Jallow’s tailoring shop and that he uttered a receipt of
D60,000.00 purported to be rent to Swandu Jallow’s tailoring shop.
