Justice Emmanuel Ahmadi of the Brikama High Court, on 29 June 2012, adjourned the case involving ex-senior agriculture officials on the grounds that the state counsel, Simon Abi, was absent from court.
The accused persons are Alhagie Bakary Trawally, former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Momodou Mbye Jabang, former programme coordinator at the Ministry of Agriculture, Modou Ceesay, a businessman, Dr Amadou Sowe, former permanent at the ministry of Agriculture, Kekoi Kuyateh, former deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Mustapha Ceesay, former deputy director general NARI, Awa Sey Touray, former supplies officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Seedy Jarju, and Yusupha Jawara.
They were charged with five counts of economy crimes, three counts of uttering false documents and two counts of negligence of official duties.
When the case was called, the defence team comprising Lawyers L.S Camara, Ida Drammeh and Sheriff Marie Tambadou, announced their representation for the accused persons.
The trial judge then informed the court that the case could not proceed in the absence of the prosecutor.
He said the prosecutor had sent a text message to the court clerk informing him that he was ill and could not make it to the court, adding that this was the second time the prosecutor was absent.
Defence counsel Ida Drammeh then told the court that if the state had no evidence against the accused person, let them be acquitted and discharged.
The case was then adjourned till 11 July 2012.
