Sabally now faces an eight-count charge, which includes economic crime, abuse of office, neglecting official duty and giving false information to a public servant.
When the case was called, DPP S.H. Barkun told the court they have an application to amend the charge on which the accused person was earlier arraigned.
Senior defence counsel Antouman Gaye said he was served with the amended charge, and had no objection.
The amended charge read in court in count one stated that Momodou Sabally, in May 2014in Banjul did commit an offence while serving as Secretary General, Head of the Civil Service, and Minister for Presidential Affairs, causing economic loss to Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation to the tune of D402,500, by unduly influencing the said SSHFC to fund a programme titled:“Youth Career Development Program” organised by one Mariama Sillah, without recourse to due process and thereby committed an offence.
Count two stated that Momodou Sabally in May 2014caused economic loss to the Gambia government to the tune of D38, 424 being money received by him as per diem for a trip to South Africa to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Jacob Zuma, which he neglected to attend, and thereby committed an offence.
Count three stated that Momodou Sabally in May 2014 influenced SSHFC to sponsor a programme titled: “Youth Career Development Program” organised by one Mariama Sillah and thereby committed an offence.
Count four stated that Momodou Sabally in May 2014, in blatant disregard of due process influenced SSHFC to sponsor the programme organised by Mariama Sillah.
Count five read that Momodou Sabally on 22May 2014 while being part of the Gambian delegation to South Africa to attend the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma, willfully neglected to attend the same inauguration and thereby committed an offence.
Count six said Momodou Sabally on 22May 2014, in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, while being part of the Gambian delegation to South Africa to attend the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma, willfully and negligently delayed the departure of the Vice President’s flight from South Africa for 45 minutes and thereby committed an offence.
Count seven read that Momodou Sabally sometime in 2014presented two vehicles being the property of Alasan Ndoye to the President as a gift, and thereby committed an offence.
Count eight stated that Momodou Sabally sometime in 2014, with intent to annoy and cause financial loss to Alasan Ndoye, informed the President that the said Alasan Ndoye has given two vehicles to the President, which information he knew to be false and thereby committed an offence.
Sabally denied any wrongdoing.
The DPP then told the court that he would ask for an adjournment to enable him call his witnesses, and proceed with the case.
Senior defence counsel Gaye said he has a pending bail application he wanted to make before the court.
The case was then adjourned to27October 2014, for submission of the bail application.
