Karamo Sanneh, who dragged the Gambia Teachers’ Union (GTU) to the Kanifing Industrial Tribunal for wrongful dismissal, on 2 April 2013, testified before Magistrate Jobarteh, chairman of the tribunal.
In his testimony, he said he lived at Busumbala and was unemployed.
He testified that he knows the defendant, adding that there was a relationship between him and the defendant.
Sanneh adduced that he was employed by the defendant on 19 August 2006, further stating that he served a probationary period of six months.
Upon successful completion of the probation, his employment was confirmed, he said, adding that he was given an appointment letter.
The said letter was shown to him, which he identified.
His counsel, Hakim, applied to tender the said letter and there was no objection from the defendant’s counsel, Kebba Sanyang.
The tribunal admitted the letter.
Mr Sanneh further told the tribunal that his employment was confirmed by a letter dated 20 March 2007, adding that the confirmation was effected 1 March 2007.
The confirmation letter was shown to him, which he identified.
His counsel applied to tender it. The defendant’s counsel did not raise any objection, and the said letter was admitted by the tribunal.
Sanneh also said he was familiar with the terms and conditions of the employment, adding that he wanted to acquaint himself with the service rules of the defendant through the office of the Deputy Secretary General, for which he demanded both verbally and by series of correspondence but to no avail.
He said this annoyed some of the senior officials of the defendant and he was suspended on 30 July 2008, based on allegations levelled against him in the 2008 suspension letter.
The said suspension letter was shown to him, which he identified.
His counsel applied to tender it and the defendant’s counsel did not object to it. It was admitted by the tribunal.
Sanneh adduced that the allegations in the letter had been addressed in 2008 and he was punished with suspension without pay.
He testified that on 26 March 2012, he officially wrote to the defendant management requesting the service rules and the request was turned down, after which he was suspended indefinitely.
He said upon the intervention by Moses Richards, who emphasised the illegality of the suspension, he was reinstated and his salaries of April and May were paid.
Sanneh testified that there was a letter written by Moses Richards to the defendant.
The said letter was shown to him, which he identified.
His counsel applied to tender it and the defendant’s counsel did not raise any objection. The letter was admitted by the tribunal.
He added that there was a response from the defendant’s lawyer.
The letter written by the defendant’s lawyer was shown to him, which he identified.
His counsel applied to tender it and the defendant’s counsel did not object to the tendering of the letter. It was admitted by the tribunal.
At this juncture, the case was adjourned till 30 April 2013.
