Immigration Commissioner Lang Demba, former public relations officer at the Immigration Department in Banjul, was yesterday granted bail in the sum of D500, 000 with two Gambian sureties who must possess landed properties within the Greater Banjul Area. Bail was granted following an application by his lawyer, Assan Martin.
The prosecuting officer, Chief Inspector Badjie, did not object to the bail application, pointing out that the alleged offence is bailable.
However, the police prosecutor applied for an adjournment to enable him bring the prosecution witnesses to court. He told the court that all the prosecution witnesses are police officers attached to the Accounts Department, and are currently busy paying salaries to other officers.
The case was adjourned to 5th April 2010.
Commissioner Demba is standing trial on a charge of stealing by servant or clerk, a charge he has denied.
According to the particulars of the offence, between the month of November 2008 to December 2009, while in Liberia on a peace-keeping mission with the Gambian police contingent, Commissioner Demba received the total sum of $15, 625 from various police officers of the said contingent. This was their 10% monthly contribution to the Gambia Police Force, which he failed to account for or deliver to the Gambia Police Force.
