The trial of former senior judicial officials could not proceed on Friday at the high court in Banjul before Justice Lamin Jobarteh.
This followed the application made by senior defence counsel Antouman Gaye on the grounds that counsel for the third accused was not in court, and the witness might give evidence that touches his client.
He, therefore, applied for an adjournment, which was granted and the case subsequently adjourned to 2 June 2011.
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. All vehemently denied the charges preferred against them.
According to the particulars of offence on count one, Alhaji LS Sonko in 2009, being a public officer attached to the Sheriff's Division of the High Court of The Gambia and entrusted with the duties to execute judgments, 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 Others versus 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 Banjul, The Gambia, did receive various sums of money totalling D550,000, from Alhaji LS Sonko knowing that the said money has been stolen or having reasonable grounds to believe that the said money has been feloniously taken or obtained.
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, Gambia the sum of US$1000 from Ansumana Sonko and Alhaji LS Sonko, knowing the same has been stolen or having reasonable grounds to believe the same to has been feloniously obtained.
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 judgements 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.
