Mambury Njie trial continues at high court

The trial of former cabinet minister Mambury Njie, charged with economic crime, continued yesterday at the high court in Banjul, with Abdoulie Cham, a former director-general at the Geological Department, testifying before Justice Mikailu Abdulah.

Cham told the court that he was working at the Geological Department, and knew the Carnagie Minerals mining company.

It was a company in The Gambia involved in mining, and had a licence to mine and export mineral sands from the country.

Cham, the second prosecution witness (PW2), further told the court that the company usually paid a royalty to The Gambia.

 The value of the mineral sands per tonne was $30.8, and the company used to pay 5 per cent of the sales price to the government, he said.

Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, LS Camara, who asked where he got the value, the witness said he got it from reports sent by the Carnagie Minerals to the Geological Department.

Cham added that at the time of sending the report, he was the deputy director-general of the government department.

The reports were sent to the Geological Department because the licence provides for operators to send reports on their operations to the department, he said.

The case continues today.