National Environment Agency (NEA), on 12 November 2013, dragged Momodou C. Cham, former minister in the first Republic, Binta Jallow, Fatoumata Sillah, Abdou Marong, Musa Jallow and Sheikh Omar Jabbi to the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court for allegedly discharging waste water into the public street.
The case was presided over by Magistrate Bojang.
According to the charge sheet, on 11 November 2013, at Bakau, M.C. Cham unlawfully and willfully discharged waste water into the public street. He denied the charge.
He was granted bail in the sum of D5,000 with a Gambian surety who should swear to an affidavit of means, and also to deposit an ID card.
Binta Jallow was charged with discharging waste water into the public street on 11 November 2013, at Nema Kunku, unlawfully.
She denied the charge and was granted bail in the sum of D5,000 with a Gambian surety who must swear to an affidavit of means and deposit an ID card.
Fatoumata Sillah was absent to answer to the same charge.
Prosecutor Bojang applied for an adjournment to enable the accused to be present in court.
Abdou Marong, who was also facing the same charge, was also absent.
As a result, the prosecutor applied for an adjournment to enable him to take his plea.
Musa Jallow, who was charged with the same offence, was not present in court to take his plea.
The prosecutor applied for an adjournment for the accused to appear in court.
Sheikh Omar Jabbi pleaded guilty to the same charge.
The charge sheet read that on 11 November 2013, at New Jeshwang, the accused unlawfully discharged waste water into the public street.
Magistrate Bojang, in his judgement, told the court that the public street was more important than the accused’s compound, adding that because he did not want the waste water in his compound, the members of the public did not also want the waste water in the streets.
The accused begged for mercy.
Magistrate Bojang convicted and sentenced him to a fine of D3,000 in default to serve three months in prison.
Earlier, Awa Camara and Modou Gaye were arraigned before Magistrate Bojang for discharging waste water into the public street which they denied and were granted bail.
When the case was mentioned on 12 November 2013, they failed to appear.
As a result, the prosecutor applied to the court to issue a bench warrant for their arrest. His application was granted.
Mam Jarra Jaiteh and Babucarr Secka were also earlier charged with discharging waste water into the public street but denied any wrongdoing.
On 12 November 2013, it was only Babucarr Secka who was present in court.
The prosecutor rose and told the court that he was informed by Mam Jarra Jaiteh’s husband that she was sick. This was confirmed by her husband, who was present in court.
Ousman Mballow and Baba Ceesay were previously paraded to answer to the same charge, which they denied. They were granted bail.
On 12 November 2013, when the case resumed, Ousman Mballow was not present in court.
The prosecutor then applied to the court to adjourn the case to enable him call his witnesses.
All the cases were adjourned till 19 November 2013.
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