The state had recently filed a motion to forfeit the properties of seven foreign nationals who were earlier convicted and sentenced by the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on 11 October 2011, for drugs-related offences.
The seven foreign nationals are Rudy Rasoel Hamid Ghazi, Juan Carlos Sanchez, Esteaban Zanvalla, Georeg Sanchez, Louis Dose Fermin, Eric Bottin, and Juan Carlos Diaz.
They were convicted and sentenced to 50 years imprisonment with hard labour and a mandatory fine of D50,000,000, in default to serve another 50 years imprisonment, for the offences of conspiracy to traffic prohibited drug, conspiracy to traffic, and dealing in prohibited drugs.
The case was mentioned yesterday at the narcotics court of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Daio Small.
However, the motion could not be moved, and action was subsequently postponed to 6 January 2014, for the state to move their motion.
The motion filed before the court reads: “That the respondents were convicted by the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on 11 October 2011, and were sentenced to 50 years imprisonment with hard labour and a mandatory fine of D50,000,000, in default to serve another 50 years imprisonment for the offences of conspiracy to traffic prohibited drug, conspiracy to traffic, and dealing in prohibited drugs.
“The respondent filed an appeal at the High Court with criminal appeal No HC/498/11/CR/153/Co and same was dismissed and the conviction and sentenced of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court was affirmed.
“That no appeal has being filed against the judgment or decision of the High Court.
‘’That the trial court held as a fact that the warehouse at Bonto village was used by the respondents to traffic drugs and the drugs were in fact discovered at the said warehouse.
“That a Mercedes Benz Truck with registration number BJL0155D, Nissan Truck with registration number BJL 3440G, Renault Truck with registration number DK1610AB, Ford double cabin pick up BJL 4408F, Benz familiar with Registration Number BJL 1209D, and Toyota 4 runner were discovered from the respondents as same were used in the commission of the offences for which the respondents were convicted.
“That it will be the interest of justice for the said items used in the commission of the offences to be forfeited to the state.”
