Ex-Justice Minister Jobarteh, Pa Harry Jammeh back in court

Jobarteh and Jammeh were earlier arraigned at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, under a 10-count charge which included conspiracy to defeat justice, abuse of office, official corruption, destroying evidence, and neglect of official duty.

When the case was called, the state counsel, Adeyemi, announced her representation for the state, while the 1st accused was being represented by Lawyer L.S. Camara, and the 2nd accused was represented Lawyer E. Jah.

The state counsel then informed the court that the matter was for mention, as the case was coming for the first time.

She said they needed time to advise themselves, and applied for an adjournment.

Defence counsel E Jah drew the attention of the court to the fact that the accused persons were earlier arraigned before the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, where they where granted bail, and they fulfilled all the bail conditions.

He appealed to the court to for the same bail conditions to continue.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case to 30 July 2013, for mention, and ordered that the accused persons shall continue to enjoy the bail granted to them by the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, until the state filed a new charge sheet.

Jobarteh, it would be noted, already faces eleven counts which included abuse of office, wrongfully retaking possession of land from person who obtained possession by writ of court, economic crime, giving false information to a public officer, forcible entry, operating business without a license, at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul.

He also faces another charge of abuse of office and two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, alongside former Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service and minister of presidential affairs, Dr. Njogu Bah, and former solicitor general and legal secretary Pa Harry Jammeh, at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.