Four former top brass of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) Tuesday denied the first 45 counts read to them at the Banjul High Court before Justice M. Abdoulahi.
The accused persons are Benedict Jammeh, former director-general of the agency, Abdoulie Ceesay, former spokesperson of the agency, Foday Barry, former director of intelligence and investigation, and Commissioner Yusupha Jatta, former director of administration at the agency.
They face a 90-count charge, which includes economic crime, negligence, giving false information, abuse of office, false publication, false broadcasting, theft and fabricating false evidence, among others.
They were supposed to take their plea on 90 counts on 30 April 2013, but were able to plea on only 45 counts, which charges they denied.
The remaining forty-five counts would be read to them when the case resumed on 2 May 2013.
When the case was called, the DPP announced his appearance for the state, while defence lawyer Badou S.M. Conteh announced his appearance for the 1st and 4th accused persons, Benedict Jammeh and Yusupha Jatta. Lawyer E. Jah held brief for Kebba Sanyang, who was representing the 2nd accused person, Abdoulie Ceesay, while defence counsel Ozuma announced his representation for the 3rd accused, Foday Barry.
After reading up to 45 counts to the accused persons, the team of defence counsel applied for an adjournment on the grounds that the accused persons were tired of standing, and that they also had other court cases to attend.
Their application was granted, and the case was adjourned till 2 May 2013, for continuation of plea-taking on the remaining counts.
