Ex-senior judicial officials trial resumes

The criminal trial involving ex-senior judicial officials yesterday resumed before Justice Lamin Jobarteh of the High Court in Banjul.

However, the case was mentioned and adjourned until 28th, 29th, and 30th March 2011 for hearing.

The Deputy Director of Special Litigation at the Attorney General's Chambers, Simeon Abi, represented the state whilst the accused persons, as well as their defence counsel were all present in court during Monday's proceedings.

The accused persons are Alhaji LS Sonko, ex-assistant Sheriff attached to the Sheriff Division; Haruna Jaiteh, ex-judicial Secretary; Amina Saho-Ceesay, ex-Master of the High Court; and Ngui Mboob-Janneh, ex-judge. All have 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 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 Division of the High Court of The Gambia received D550,000, being the proceeds of execution in the case of Sosses and others 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 Banjul, did receive various sums of money totalling D550,000, from Alhaji LS Sonko knowing that the said money had been stolen or having reasonable grounds to believe that the said money had 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 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 29th May 2009 received through the International Commercial Bank Gambia the sum of US$1000 from Ansumana Sonko and Alhaji LS Sonko, knowing the same to have been stolen or having reasonable grounds to believe the same to have 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 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.