Charges had been brought against the former managing director of the Gambia Printing and Publishing Corporation (GPPC) and his finance director, at the Banjul High Court before Justice M. Abdoullah.
Cherno Gaye, former GPPC managing director, and Dodou Nasso, finance director, were arraigned under a nine-count charge, which included economic crime, disobedience, abuse of office, neglect of official duty, which both men denied.
Count one of the charge sheet alleged that Cherno Gaye, some time in 2009 in the Kanifing Municipality within the jurisdiction of the court, did commit an offence in his capacity as the managing director of the Gambia Printing and Publishing Corporation (GPPC), when he failed to recover the sum of D45,000 being board fee advances paid to the following board members of the corporation, Pa Mamadi Sowe, D19,500, Ebrima Dondeh D15,000, Mr Cherno Gaye, D7,000, Mr Modou Lamin Touray D3,000, and Buba Bojang D1,000, which act was detrimental to the economy of The Gambia.
Cherno Gaye and Dodou Nasso were accused on count two that, between 2008 and 2009 in the Kanifing Municipality within the jurisdiction of the court, in their capacities as the managing director and director of finance of the GPPC respectively, they failed to recover the sum of D65,362 being salary advances paid to the employees of the corporation, which act was detrimental to the economy of The Gambia.
Cherno Gaye and Dodou Nasso were also accused on count three that, some time in 2008 in Kanifing Municipality within the jurisdiction of the court, as the managing director and director of finance of the GPPC respectively, they allowed the payment of Mamadi Dampha’s salary into his bank account for the months of May, June, July, August, September and October 2008, amounting to D45,760.37, who was absence from work without leave, which act was detrimental to the economy of The Gambia.
Under count four, Cherno Gaye was accused that, some time between 2009 and 2012 in the Kanifing Municipality within the jurisdiction of the court, he did commit an offence when he willfully gave unauthorized approval of five different loans to Dodou Nasso, totaling D42,246.17 which act was contrary to financial instruction 188 relating to loans to Government employees.
State prosecutors also accused Cherno Gaye and Dodou Nasso, on count five that, in December 2008 in Kanifing within the jurisdiction of the court, in their capacities, as the managing director and director of finance of the GPPC respectively, in flagrant abuse of their office, sold a Toyota Pickup belonging to the corporation to Mr Essa Camara, an employee of the corporation, with a D15,000 discount without such sale being done by way of public auction, and against the laid down procedure for the sale of the corporation’s obsolete property.
Cherno Gaye and Dodou Nasso were also accused on count six that, in September 2009 in Kanifing within the jurisdiction of the court, in their capacities as the managing director and director of finance of the GPPC respectively, issued open cheques as opposed to cross cheques, specifically Trust Bank Cheque NO, 2981870 with a face value of D21,156.21 that was paid in cash over the counter to Mucktar Darboe of New Jeshwang on the 7th September 2009, which was meant for NAWEC and AGIB Cheques No. 21987012 with a face value of D7,000 which was also paid over the counter on the 29th September 2009, which was contrary to the Financial Instructions No. 145(6).
On count seven, Cherno Gaye and Dodou Nasso, it was alleged that in 2008 in Kanifing within the jurisdiction of the court, in their capacities as the managing director and director of finance of the GPPC respectively, to have willfully neglected to stop the payment of Mamadi Dampha’s salary into his bank account for the months of May, June, July, August, September and October amounting to D45,760.37 who was absent from work without leave.
Cherno Gaye was alone accused on count eight that, on 8 February 2011 in Kanifing within the jurisdiction of the court, he did commit an offence whilst holding the office of managing director of the GPPC, when he approved and caused to be paid increment in the GPPC Board sitting allowance in the following manner: chairman from D2,000 to D3,000; private members from D1,500 to D2,500; ex-officio members from D1,000 to D2,000 respectively, without the expressed approval of the National Assembly, which act was in abrogation of Financial Instruction No.79.
Under count nine, Cherno Gaye and Dodou Nasso it was alleged that between 2008 and 2009 in Kanifing, within the jurisdiction of the court, in their capacities as the managing director and director of finance of the GPPC respectively, neglected to recover the sum of D65,362.00 being salary paid to employees of the corporation.
Defence counsel Kebba Sanyang, who represented the 2nd accused person, Dodou Nasso, applied for the defence to be served with the summary of evidence, list of witnesses and list of exhibits, and his application was granted.
The 1st accused, Cherno Gaye, was represented by senior defence counsel, AB Gaye.
The case was then adjourned to the next term of the High Court sitting.