Ousman Jammeh, former Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service, has pleaded guilty at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, where he was arraigned yesterday and subsequently remanded in custody at the State Central Prison Mile 2.
He was arraigned on charges of negligence of official duty, abuse of office and for economic crimes, to which he pleaded guilty.
However, the trial magistrate informed him that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to try the economic crimes charge.
In his plea of mitigation, Mr. Jammeh told the court that he is married with three children, who are all of school-going age.
He said the office of the Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service of the Government of The Gambia is a very busy position, and that what happened was an oversight.
He told the court that he would accept the charges, and would take full responsibility as the Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service.
He added that he was a loyal civil servant, and would continue his loyalty to the government.
Jammeh pointed out that he has been working for the civil service for a long time without getting involved in a single problem, which he believes the court take put into consideration.
The case was at that juncture adjourned till 23 December 2011, for sentencing.
According to the particulars of offence on count one, Ousman Jammeh, between July and November 2011, in Banjul, being employed as the Secretary General and Head of Civil Service, failed to authorize the Personnel Management Office (PMO) to stop the salary of Mr. Sering Cham, ex-permanent secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and thereby committed an offence.
Count two stated that Ousman Jammeh, between July and November 2011, in Banjul, abused his office by virtue of his position as the Secretary General and Head of Civil Servant of the Government of The Gambia to wit, allowed Sering Cham, ex-permanent secretary at the ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MOF) to receive his salaries after been dismissed from the civil service and thereby committed an offence.
Furthermore, count three stated that Ousman Jammeh, between July and November 2011, in Banjul, by virtue of his position as the Secretary General and Head of Civil Service of the Government of The Gambia to wit, corruptly and dishonestly caused the loss of ninety thousand dalasi (90,000) to the Government of The Gambia, by allowing Sering Cham, ex-permanent secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MOF) to receive his salaries after been dismissed from the civil service and thereby committed an offence.
