Lower Saloum NAM, ex-NEDI accountant charged with economic crime

They denied any wrongdoing.

Defence counsel, LS Camara, applied for bail on behalf of the accused persons.

Police prosecutor Alpha Badjie objected to bail on the grounds that most of the prosecution witnesses were junior staff, and the accused would tamper with their witnesses.

He said the investigation into the matter was far from over, and urged the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody.

The case was set for ruling today on the bail application, and the matter was transferred to the high court.

According to the particulars of the offence in count one, Pa Malick Ceesay, between November 2010 and December 2012, by virtue of his position as the coordinator of the National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI) in the Kanifing Municipality and diverse places in The Gambia, stole D63,750 being from sales of loan forms and loan repayments.

Count two stated that Pa Malick Ceesay as coordinator of NEDI caused a loss of D63,750, to the Gambia government, from the sale of loan forms and loan repayments which could not be accounted for, an act or omission detrimental to the people and welfare of The Gambia.

Count three stated that Pa Malick Ceesay and Ismaila Njie, sometime between October 2009 and December 2012, by virtue of their employment as coordinator and accountant of NEDI stole D116,500 and D1,250 respectively from NEDI, being monies paid to them for official spending which could not be accounted for.

Count four stated that Pa Malick Ceesay and Ismaila Njie caused the loss of D116,500 and D1,250 respectively to NEDI.

Count five stated that Pa Malick Ceesay and Ismaila Njie, sometime in October and November 2009, procured goods totaling D2,100,000 from Farouk Trading without following the GPPA procurement regulations.

Count six stated that Pa Malick Ceesay, sometime in May 2011 and January 2012, being employed as NEDI coordinator, issued loans amounting to D13,000 and D50,000 to Sering M. Ceesay and Ida Jeng respectively, both NEDI staff, without a loan scheme which contravened section 186 of the Financial Instructions.

Count seven stated that Pa Malick Ceesay, sometimes in April 2010, whilst serving as NEDI coordinator received and fraudulently diverted D113,400, being loan repayment to NEDI paid to him on behalf of NEDI by Besenty Gomez, former executive secretary of the National Sports Council.

Count eight stated that Pa Malick Ceesay, sometimes in April 2010, whilst serving as NEDI coordinator caused a loss of D113,400, being loan repayment to NEDI paid to him on behalf of NEDI by Besenty Gomez, former executive secretary of the National Sports Council.

Count nine stated that Ismaila Njie and Biggi Jallow (at large), sometime from 2010 to 2012, being employed as accountants at NEDI failed to maintain a petty cashbook and petty cash voucher as required by the Financial Instructions under section 182 and 140 respectively.

Count ten stated that Pa Malick Ceesay, sometime from 2009 to 2012, as NEDI coordinator deliberately disbursed loans amounting to D2,400,000 to several vendors across the country without approving their loan.

Count eleven stated that Pa Malick Ceesay, sometime between 2009 and 2012, as NEDI coordinator, caused a loss of D2,400,000 to NEDI, being loans disbursed to several vendors across the country which could not be recovered after the maturity period due to inadequate security/guarantee.

Count twelve stated that Pa Malick Ceesay, sometime in 2010, as NEDI coordinator, disbursed loans amounting to D325,670 to Oses Fishing Association and Saloum Youth Association respectively without a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

Count thirteen stated that Pa Malick Ceesay, sometime in 2010, as NEDI coordinator, stole one piece of Grofil sewing machine valued at D50,000; one piece of drawing machine and one piece Pickas sewing machine valued at D24,000, being the sewing machines bought for the establishment of a tailoring shop for one Suwadou Jallow, which could not be accounted for.

Count fourteen stated that Pa Malick Ceesay, sometime in 2010, as NEDI coordinator, stole D39,000 being the remaining balance of D60,000 paid to him for the annual renting of a tailoring shop, instead he only paid a six-month rent of D21,000 to one Alhagie Saja Bahaga of Bundung.

Count fifteen stated that Pa Malick Ceesay, sometime in 2010, as NEDI coordinator, stole one piece of Grofil sewing machine valued at D50,000; one piece of U20 sewing machine valued at D7,500; one piece of drawing machine and one piece of Pickas sewing machine valued at D24,000, being the sewing machines bought for the establishment of a tailoring workshop for one Suwadou Jallow, which could not be account for.

Count sixteen stated that Pa Malick Ceesay, sometime in 2010, as NEDI coordinator, caused a loss of D305,000 to the Gambia government by issuing loan to one Modou Kebba, proprietor of Goor-Goolu Restaurant (at large) without proper security or guarantees in place.