Pa Modou Njie, former assistant bailiff, yesterday testified in the criminal trial involving former judicial officials at the high court in
Testifying under cross-examination, the witness admitted giving a statement at the
The three cautionary statements obtained from the witness were later tendered and admitted as exhibits.
The witness further stated that he started working with the Judiciary in 2006, after he graduated in 2005.
He added that he had his appointment letter before he started working as an assistant bailiff, admitting that he was detained at the Police headquarters for one week, and was later released on bail during investigation into the Sheriff’s Division.
He said that his late father stood as a surety for him, but he denied knowing that he is still on bail.
The case continues on 27 June 2011.
The accused persons are Alhaji LS Sonko, ex-assistant Sheriff attached to the Sheriff Division; Haruna Jaiteh, ex-judicial Secretary; Amina Saho-Ceesay, ex-Master of the High Court; and Ngui Mboob-Janneh, ex-judge. All vehemently denied the charges preferred against them.
According to the particulars of offence on count one, Alhaji LS Sonko in 2009, being a public officer attached to the Sheriff Division of the High Court of The Gambia and entrusted with the duties to execute judgements, conduct auction sales, deduct and pay into the government account, the statutory 4% of the proceeds of sales, did levy execution in the case of Sosses and others versus Serign Jobe, but neglected to deduct and pay into the government account the statutory 4% required by law.
The particulars of the offence on count two stated that, Alhaji LS Sonko, being a public officer to wit, Assistant Sheriff attached to the Sheriff Division of the High Court of The Gambia received D550, 000, being the proceeds of execution in the case of Sosses and other verses Serign Jobe and converted the said money to his personal use without the consent of the Government of The Gambia.
Count three stated that, Ngui Mboob-Janneh, Amina Saho-Ceesay and Haruna Jaiteh in 2009 at Banjul, The Gambia, did received various sums of money totalling D550, 000, from Alhaji LS Sonko knowing that the said money had been stolen or having reasonable grounds to believe that the said money had been feloniously taken or obtained.
The charge sheet on count four stated that, Amina Saho-Ceesay between 2007 and 2009, while being employed as a Sheriff in the public service of The Gambia conducted auction sales, and realised a total sum of D542, 432.49, being the statutory 4% deduction from the proceeds of sale and converted the same to her personal use in the following cases: GTB versus Quantum Associates (D260,000.00), Dr. Nana Quayson versus Lang Conteh (D42,000.00), GTB versus Govinda & Sons (D48,000.00), BICI versus Sulayman Jallow (D20,000.00), GTB versus Kabiru Mouktar Mohammed (D151,488.49), Reliance Financial versus Babo Joof (D6,320.00) and Inger Johanne Ussberg versus Lamin Secka (D14,624.00).
Count five stated that Amina Saho-Ceesay on 29 May 2009 received through the International Bank,
Furthermore, count six stated that Alhaji LS Sonko and Amina Saho-Ceesay, between 2006 and 2009, being public servants of the Government of The Gambia and charged with the responsibility of levying execution of judgements and carrying out auction sales, with intent to defraud, carried out sales, but failed or omitted to keep proper accounts of the auction carried out in the following cases: GTB versus Quantum Associates, Dr. Nana Quayson versus Lang Conteh, GTB versus Govinda & Sons, BICI versus Sulayman Jallow, GTB versus Kabiru Mouktar Mohammed, Reliance Financial versus Babo Joof and Inger Johnson Ussberg versus Lamin Secka.
