The criminal trial involving former senior officers of the Judiciary Thursday continued at the high court in
The accused persons are Alhaji LS Sonko, ex-assistant Sheriff attached to the Sheriff’s Division; Haruna Jaiteh, ex-judicial Secretary; Amina Saho-Ceesay, ex-Master of the High Court and Ngui Mboob-Janneh, ex-judge.
Continuing his testimony under cross-examination, Pa Modou Njie, a former assistance bailiff, told the court that all the bailiffs are entitled to report the cases they are handling, and this should be done monthly and quarterly.
He said he could not remember how long Mrs Saho-Ceesay had stayed outside of the jurisdiction, adding that in the absence of the Sheriff, the Chief Justice is in charge of the Sheriff’s Division.
Njie added that he could not also recall that Mrs Saho-Ceesay had an accident, when she returned to The Gambia.
He admitted under cross-examination that he was charged together with the accused persons at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, and was also remanded at the State Central Prison.
“I was later called at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, where I was told that they would use me as a witness, but there was no plea bargaining for me to be a witness,” he added.
He further adduced that he had sent $1,000 to Mrs Saho-ceesay when she was in
The case continues.
According to the particulars of offence on count one, Alhaji LS Sonko in 2009, being a public officer attached to the Sheriff Division of the High Court of The Gambia and entrusted with the duties to execute judgements, conduct auction sales, deduct and pay into the government account, the statutory 4% of the proceeds of sales, did levy execution in the case of Sosses and Others versus Serign Jobe, but neglected to deduct and pay into the government account the statutory 4% required by law.
The particulars of the offence on count two stated that, Alhaji LS Sonko, being a public officer to wit, Assistant Sheriff attached to the Sheriff’s Division of the High Court of The Gambia received the sum of D550,000, being the proceeds of execution in the case of Sosses and Other verses Serign Jobe and converted the said money to his personal use without the consent of the Government of The Gambia.
Count three stated that, Ngui Mboob-Janneh, Amina Saho-Ceesay and Haruna Jaiteh in 2009 at
The charge sheet on count four stated that, Amina Saho-Ceesay between 2007 and 2009, while being employed as a Sheriff in the public service of The Gambia conducted auction sales, and realised a total sum of D542, 432.49, being the statutory 4% deduction from the proceeds of sale and converted the same to her personal use in the following cases: GTB versus Quantum Associates (D260,000.00), Dr. Nana Quayson versus Lang Conteh (D42,000.00), GTB versus Govinda and sons (D48,000.00), BICI versus Sulayman Jallow (D20,000.00), GTB versus Kabiru Mouktar Mohammed (D151,488.49), Reliance Financial versus Babo Joof (D6,320.00) and Inger Johanne Ussberg versus Lamin Secka (D14,624.00).
Count five stated that, Amina Saho-Ceesay on 29 May 2009 received through the International Bank,
Whereas count six stated that, Alhaji LS Sonko and Amina Saho-Ceesay, between 2006 and 2009, being public servants of the government of The Gambia and charged with the responsibility of levying execution of judgments and carrying out auction sales, with intent to defraud carried out sales, but failed or omitted to keep proper accounts of the auction carried out in the following cases: GTB versus Quantum Associates, Dr. Nana Quayson versus Lang Conteh, GTB versus Govinda and sons, BICI versus Sulayman Jallow, GTB versus Kabiru Mouktar Mohammed, Reliance Financial versus Babo Joof and Inger Johnson Ussberg versus Lamin Secka.
