The other accused persons are Hamidou Jallow, Principal Lands and Evaluation Officer, at the said Ministry, and Tamsir Onasis Konteh, a local businessman.
The trial was supposed to continue with the cross-examination of the fourth prosecution witness, the Alkalo of Tanji village, but could not proceed due to the ill-health of the magistrate.
At yesterday’s resumption of the trial, the trial magistrate, Hilary Abeke, informed the court that he had not been coming to work throughout the week due to his ill-health.
He further informed the court that he just came to see the court, as he had not been at work since Monday.
The case was then adjourned to 3 February 2014.
The particulars of offence indicated on count one state that Tamsir Onasis Konteh and Hamidou Jallow, in November 2011, in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, conspired to use forged documents to claim compensation in respect of Tanji Residential Layout and thereby committed an offence.
Count two stated that Tamsir Onasis Konteh, in November 2011, in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, made a document purported to be land title documents issued by the Alkalo of Tanji village in order to claim compensation in respect of plots acquired for Tanji Residential Layout, and thereby committed an offence.
Count three read that Tamsir Onasis Konteh, in November 2011, in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, knowingly and fraudulently uttered false documents in order to claim compensation in respect of the plots acquired for Tanji Residential Layout, and thereby committed an offence.
Count four stated that Tamsir Onasis Konteh, in November 2011, in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, with intent to defraud obtained D300, 000 from one Edward T.Sambou as consideration for a plot of land at Tanji Residential Layout with knowledge that the said plots were allocated to him under questionable circumstances, and thereby committed an offence
Count five disclosed that Hamidou Jallow, in November 2011, in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, being employed in the public service and in his capacity as Principal Lands and Evaluation Officer caused plots of land (Nos. C8 and C9) to be allocated as compensation to Tamsir Onasis Knoteh, with knowledge that the said plots were already allocated to Kanilai Family Farms and Mr. Basirou Sambou respectively, and with the knowledge that the said Tamsir Onasis Konteh was not qualified for any and thereby committed and offence
Count six stated that Hamidou Jallow, in November 2011, in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, being employed in the public service and in his capacity as Principal Lands and Evaluation Officer caused plots of land (Nos C8 and C9), to be allocated as compensation to Tamsir Onasis Konteh against the laid down procedure for the award of compensation, and thereby committed an offence.
Count seven read that Hamidou Jallow, in November 2011, in Banjul within jurisdiction of the court, being employed in the public service and his capacity as Principal Lands Evaluation Officer and in disobedience of the order of the Director of Lands caused compensation to be paid to Tamsir Onasis Konteh, and thereby committed an offence.
Count eight stated that Lamin Waa Juwara, in November 2011, in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, being employed in the public service and in his capacity as Minister of Regional Administrations, Lands and Traditional Rulers, by willful negligent act caused plots of land (Nos. C8 and C9) to be allocated as compensation to Tamsir Onasis Konateh, with knowledge that the said plots were already allocated to Kanilai Family Farms and Mr. Basirou Sambou respectively, and with the knowledge that the said Tamsir Onasis Konteh was not qualified for any, and thereby committed an offence.
They all denied the charge.