More documents tendered in ex-SG Njogu Bah and Co trial

State prosecutors yesterday tendered more documents in the trial of former Justice minister Lamin AMS Jobarteh, former Solicitor General Pa Harry Jammeh, and Dr Njogou l. Bah, the former Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service.

The three are being tried on a three-count charge, which included conspiracy to carry out a lawful purpose by an unlawful means, giving false information to a public officer, and abuse of office, at the Special Criminal Court before Justice Emmanuel Nkea.

Yesterday’s proceedings saw the testimony of the state third prosecution witness (PW3), ASP Lamin Cham, a police officer attached to the Major Crimes Unit as the station officer.

In his testimony, ASP Cham said he knew the accused persons, adding that some time in May 2013, a panel was set up at the NIA headquarters to investigate the activities of the accused persons as to whether they did conspire; whether they did cause any economic loss to the state, and whether they had engaged in any criminal activities outside their office.

ASP Cham added that the panel investigated, and looked into various things, such as abuse of office, and that as the investigation continued, various documents were requested by the police, and from the judiciary.

He added that these were documents like the letter from AG’s Chambers signed by Pa Harry Jammeh, and the termination letter of Justice Joseph Wowo signed by John Belford, and another letter from the IGP.

A bunch of documents was shown to the witness, which he identified and the state counsel applied to tender them in evidence as exhibits.

 At that juncture, defence counsel L.K. Mboge told the court that the witness should identify the documents by their names, which the witness did.

The documents were the termination letter which was signed by John Belford; the state versus Amie Bensouda signed by Pa Harry Jammeh; and another on the state versus Amie Bensouda, again signed by Abba Sanyang, a commissioner.

 The state then applied to tender them as exhibits, and they were admitted and marked as exhibits without any objection from the defence.

The case continues on 5 September 2013.