State prosecutors yesterday filed more charges against former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lamin AMS Jobarteh, at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul before Justice Emmanuel Nkea.
Jobarteh now faces eleven counts which include abuse of office, wrongfully retaking possession of land from person who obtained possession by writ of court, economic crime, giving false information to a public officer, forcible entry, and operating business without a license.
He denied the charges, and was granted a court bail of D3 million with two Gambian sureties with landed properties within the Greater Banjul Area which worth D3 million.
The bail conditions further stipulated that Jobarteh should be reporting every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to the Old Yundum Police Station.
The accused should also deposit his travel documents with the registrar of the High Court.
Lamin AMS Jobarteh was accused in count one that, on 2 February 2013 in Bijilo within the jurisdiction of the court, being the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, in abuse of the authority of his office, ordered, directed and personally assisted in the arrest and detention of Alieu Barry and Bernd George Diedrich.
In count two, it is alleged that Lamin AMS Jobarteh, on 2 February 2013 in Bijilo within the jurisdiction of the court, being the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, he wrongfully retook possession of the land from Bernd George Diedrich in favour of one Mr. Sowe, possession of which land Mr. Diedrich had obtained by writ of court.
State prosecutors also accused Lamin AMS Jobarteh in count three that, on 2 February 2013 in Bijilo within the jurisdiction of the court, being the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, he willfully and or recklessly caused the monetary loss to the Gambia Revenue Authority, a public body, by constituting a taskforce which re-assessed and reviewed downwards the tax liabilities of several tax defaulters as found by the Tax Commission.
Jobarteh was further accused in count four that, on 2 February and in April 2013 in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, being the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, he informed the Office of the President that over D200 million had been recovered from tax defaulters and deposited in the GRA recovery account with the GTBank, knowing such information to be false.
Under count five for Lamin AMS Jobarteh, it was alleged that between July 2012 and May 2013 in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, being the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, he informed the commissioner general of the Gambia Revenue Authority that there was cabinet approval to establish a taskforce to re-assessed the tax liabilities of defaulters as shown in the Tax Commission report, knowing such information to be false.
It was also alleged in count six that Lamin AMS Jobarteh in 2011, at Tubanding village in the Upper Fulladu West district of the Central River Region within the jurisdiction of the court, being a judge of the High Court, in abuse of the authority of his office, he ordered and directed the arrest and detention of Mustapha Kanyi and Yarro Jamanka, at Bansang Police Station.
State prosecutors further accused Lamin AMS Jobarteh in count seven that, between 2009 and 2011 at Tubanding village in the Upper Fulladu West district of the Central River Region within the jurisdiction of the court, in order to take possession of lands not given to him, he entered upon such lands in Tubanding village by threats and fencing beyond the area given to him.
Under count eight, Lamin AMS Jobarteh was accused that, between 2010 and 2013 in Bansang within the jurisdiction of the court, being a Gambian citizen, breached the provisions of the license Act by failing to register his lodge as required by the law for the purposes of taxation, thereby causing financial loss to the Tourism Board and the Gambia Revenue Authority.
It is further alleged in count nine that Lamin AMS Jobarteh, between 2010 and 2013 in Bansang within the jurisdiction of the court, operated “Amie’s Lodge” or “Jobarteh’s Lodge”, a lodge of 18 rooms, without a license.
Jobarteh was also accused in count ten that, some time in April 2013 in Bansang within the jurisdiction of the court, being the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, in abuse of the authority of his office, he arbitrarily ordered and directed the relocation of the NAWEC public tap at the Bansang Village Bantaba.
On count eleven, Jobarteh was accused that, in April 2013 in Bansang within the jurisdiction of the court, in order to take possession of community lands within the Bansang Village Bantaba, he ordered the relocation of the NAWEC public tap and entered upon such lands in Bansang village by threats and commenced developments thereon.
Hearing continues.
It would be recalled that Jobarteh also faces another charge of abuse of office and two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, alongside Dr. Njogu Bah and Pa Harry Jammeh, at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.