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Defence closes case in ex-GPA MD’s trial

Mar 21, 2014, 10:08 AM | Article By: Bakary Samateh

In the false information case against Abdoulie Tambedou, former managing director of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA), the defence yesterday announced that they have closed their case.

The trial of Abdoulie Tambedou is at the Banjul magistrates’ court before senior magistrate Lamin Mbai.

When the case was called, defence counsel Edward Singhateh told the court that the case was for the defence to call their second witness; however, they have decided to close their case.

He said they would file briefs in support of their defence on 27 March 2014, and the prosecution could also file their briefs, if there was any. In response, the police prosecutor, First Class Faye, told the court that the prosecution also needed time to file their brief on or before 3 April 2014.

The case was then adjourned to 7 April 2014, for adoption of briefs.

The particulars of offence in count one read that Abdoulie Tambedou, on 13 August 2012 in Banjul wrote a petition to the Office of the President, alleging that indiscipline by the associates and relatives of his predecessor, Momodou Lamin Gibba, by way of making derogatory remarks towards him and the GPA management, with intent to make the GPA ungovernable for him; which information he knew to be false at the time.

Count two stated that Abdoulie Tambedou wrote a letter to the Office of the President in which he stated that he had actually informed his predecessor, Momodou Lamin Gibba, of the problems he had with his alleged relatives and associates, and in which Tambedou also stated that he (Gibba) distanced himself from their actions; information he (Tambedou) knew to be false at the time.

Count three stated that Abdoulie Tambedou in the letter to the Office of the President, stated that if he had taken action against Lamin Sanyang and Ebou Gibba, the duo would have definitely written to the President’s Office complaining of tribalism; information he knew to be false at the time.

Count four stated that Abdoulie Tambedou, some time in December 2012 at Police headquarters in Banjul told the panel of investigators that Lamin L. Sanyang attempted to knock him down with his car, during one of his visits to the PWD container terminal in July 2012; information he knew to be false.