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Former Food Standard and Hygiene unit DG’s case proceeds

May 10, 2012, 1:12 PM | Article By: Bakary Samateh

The case involving Momodu Lamain Nget, former Director General of the Food Standard and Hygiene unit at the department of Health and Social Welfare, yesterday continued at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court with the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness.

Testifying under cross-examination, Lamin J. Gassama, a narcotics officer attached to the National Drugs Enforcement Agency (NDEA) Holgam office in Kanifing, told the court that he could not produce the money recovered from the accused person’s house during the investigation.

Asked by the defence counsel, apart from the different currencies, what items were recovered from the accused person’s house, the witness said a 4-wheel drive was also seized from the house, but the vehicle was released within a few days.

Further asked why the NDEA did not return the cash found in the accused person’s house, Mr. Gassama told the court that he could not speak for the agency, noting that the NDEA had decided to release the vehicle, and he was just an investigator.

Asked to tell the court who the authorities of the NDEA are, Gassama told the court that the NDEA has a Director General and directors.

He added that he did not know whether the accused person and Foday Barry knew each other, prior to September 2011.

Still under cross-examination, the witness added that he was never aware of any private discussion between the accused person and his boss regarding this case.

When it was further put to the witness that all what the accused person had said during the investigation was true, Gassama said he did not know.

The case was subsequently adjourned to 24 May 2012, for hearing.