In Gamtel Economic Crime Case, Accused Persons Refused Bail Again

The three Gamtel staff facing economic crime charges were on Friday refused bail for the second time on the same grounds that investigations are still on going. Ebrima Bandeh, Adama Ceesay and Sheikh Gaye were first refused bail on the 16th of October 2008, when they were arraigned, on the grounds that investigations are still on going.

Lawyer Lamin Mboge, on Friday 30th January 2009 filed a motion in court for his client, Sheikh Gaye, to be granted bail. He told the court that he had served the state counsel, Shanaka, a copy of the motion.

At that juncture Mr. Shanaka rose and told the court that it was true that he had been served the motion, but only on the previous day, Thursday the 29th, and that he needs time to go through the motion. He asked the court to give him time to go through the motion.

The trial magistrate, Abdoulie Mbackeh, then adjourned the case to 5th to allow him to go through the motion, but refused the bail.

The three were on Thursday 16th October 2008 under a holding charge, arraigned before the Kanifing Magistrates' Court on various economic crime charges.

According to count one, Ebrima Bandeh, in April, May and June 2008 in Abuko, being the Director of Multimedia Services of Gamtel, did wilfully cause the loss of D197, 239 to Gamtel. (Being the revenue loss suffered by Gamtel from international calls diverted through a sim-box illegally installed on Gamtel facilities by Mr. Bandeh).

In count two, Ebrima Bandeh in April, May and June 2008, in Abuko did wilfully cause the loss of D15, 000 to Gamtel. It is the value of the 2-mega bytes (E1) International Cable Link that he illegally removed from the Billing Department of Gamtel to facilitate the functioning of the Sim-box unlawfully installed by him.

According to count three Ebrima Bandeh, in the same period and place, did wilfully cause the loss of D15, 000, 000 to Gamtel. It is the revenue loss suffered by Gamtel, when he illegally removed a 2-mega bytes (E1) International Link from the Billing Department to facilitate the functioning of an unauthorised sim-box installed by him, thus hampering the normal issue of customers' bills.

Count four stated that Ebrima Bandeh, in the same period and place did wilfully cause the loss of D1, 228, 895 to Gamtel. It is the loss suffered by Gamtel when the sim-box he illegally installed on Gamtel facilities caused the breakdown of the entire Internet system of The Gambia.

Count five indicated that Adama Ceesay, Sheikh Gaye being employees of Gamtel, acted in collaboration with Ebrima Bandeh to install an unauthorised sim-box on Gamtel facilities, there by caused an offence.

Count six indicated that Adama Ceesay and Sheikh Gaye acted in collaboration with Ebrima Bandeh to remove a 2-mega bytes (E1) International Link from the Billing Department of Gamtel.