Graham’s trial transferred to High Court

Edward Graham, former Managing Director of the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC), will now be tried at the High Court in Banjul for the economic crimes charge.

This was after Magistrate Alagba of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court granted the application made by the Director of Public Prosecutions, M. Abdullahi, during yesterday hearing, to transfer the charge.

The DPP told the lower court that the prosecution has filed the economic crimes charge against the accused person at the High Court.

Graham will continue to face trial for the charge of abuse office at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.

Meanwhile, continuing his testimony under cross-examination, Omar Sarr, General Manager of Home Finance Company Limited, told the court he is answerable to the board of directors.

He added that there was no meeting for the appointment of Ancha Jammeh, but she was interviewed.

“Ancha’s application was addressed to me as the General Manager. After the interview, I did not report to the board of directors, because I was later called by Mr Graham to check whether I have appointed Ancha Jammeh,” the prosecution witness told the court.

When asked by defence counsel Lamin Camara, whether he (the witness) was appointed by Mr Graham, Sarr said he was not appointed by Mr Graham.

However, he was somehow answerable to the accused person, as the managing director of the SSHFC, which owns 90% of the Home Finance Company Limited, adding that the accused person had influence over him.

The case at that juncture was adjourned till 13 June 2011.