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In judicial saga

Jan 18, 2010, 12:23 PM | Article By: Bakary Samateh

State receives auditor's report

Director of Public Prosecutions Richard N Chenge last Friday told the Banjul Magistrates' Court, presided over by Magistrate Emmanuel Nkea, that the state has received the auditor's report on the Judiciary.

According to the DPP, with the audit report, the state could now determine who should be charged or discharged. But he was quick to say that the state is yet to make any recommendation to that effect.

He said the prosecution might consider dropping the charges against some accused persons, who may be later used as prosecution witnesses in the case.

He, therefore, applied for an adjournment to 22nd January 2010.

Responding to the DPP's application for an adjournment, the leading defence counsel, Antouman Gaye told the court that the defence team was not objecting to an adjournment. But he was quick to add his wish that his client would be one of those whose charges are dropped.

It would be recalled that six Judicial officials namely, Justice Ngui Mboob-Janneh, Justice Amina Saho-Ceesay, Haruna Jaiteh, Momodou Sonko, Pa Modou Njie and Alagie ML Sonko, between 2005 to 2009 at the Sheriff?s Division of the High Court in Banjul, being civil servants, were alleged to have stolen public monies as follows:

Justice Amina Saho-Ceesay D2 million and $ 1000, Justice Ngui Mboob-Janneh D803,000 and 900 pounds sterling, Judicial Secretary Haruna Jaiteh D1, 017,000, Pa Modou Njie $1000, Momodou Sonko 900 pounds sterling and Alagie ML Sonko over D2 million and 900 pounds sterling, being the properties of The Gambia government.