#Article (Archive)

Judgment postponed in Sabally’s case

Sep 23, 2015, 9:31 AM | Article By: Halimatou Ceesay

Judgment in the economic crime case involving the former Secretary General and Minister responsible for Presidential Affairs, Momodou Sabally, was yesterday deferred at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul before Justice Amadi.

The judgement, slated for yesterday 22 September 2015, was postponed to 29 September 2015.

Sabally and his family members together with his lawyer, senior counsel Antouman Gaye, were present in court.

They were later informed by the court clerk that the judgment had been deferred until 29 September 2015, and no reason was given as to why the judgment was deferred.

Momodou Sabally was first arraigned on 11 August 2014, before Justice Makailu on a three-count charge of economic crime and abuse of office, which he denied.

On 22 October 2014, prosecutors filed an amended additional eight-count charge, which included economic crime, abuse of office, neglecting official duty and giving false information to a public servant, which he again denied.

Senior defence counsel Antouman Gaye filed a bail application before Justice Amadi of the Special Criminal Court in Banjul, and Sabally was granted bail of D1.5 million on 25 November 2014.

During the trial, the prosecution led by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Barkun, in trying to prove their case against the accused, called ten witnesses and tendered exhibits.

At the end of the cross-examination of the tenth prosecution witness, Alassan Ndoye, the Director of Public Prosecution, announced closure of their case.

At the closure of the prosecution’s case, Sabally entered into his defence and testified as a lone witness.