The Director of
Public Prosecutions, S.H Barkun, appearing before Justice Simeone Ateh Abi of
the Banjul High Court, yesterday said they would be compelled to apply for a
bench warrant against former ministry of Agriculture permanent secretary, Ada
Gaye, for her absence.
Former PS Ada Gaye and two other senior Agriculture ministry officials are charged with 11 counts, which include abuse of office, economic crime and negligence of official duty.
The accused persons are Lamin Fatajo, former project coordinator of the Rural Finance project, Muhammed Lamin Mass, former acting finance and administrative manager of the same project, and Ms Ada Gaye, former permanent secretary at the same ministry.
The state was represented by the DPP and lawyer Borry S. Touray represented Fatajo and Mass.
When the case was called, it was observed that Ms Gaye was absent.
At this stage, the DPP asserted that this was the second time Ms Gaye was absent, adding that they would be compelled to apply for a bench warrant because of her absence.
They were ready to proceed with the case, and even had their witnesses in court, but because of her absence the case would suffer a setback, he said.
Lawyer B.S. Touray craved the indulgence of the court, and further told the court there was a likelihood that both Ms Gaye and her lawyer were not aware that the case would resume yesterday.
The accused is a woman, he added. In his ruling, the trial judge said considering the undertaking of lawyer Touray, the court would not consider the prosecution’s application to issue a bench warrant for the 3rd accused.
The case was adjourned until 17 November 2015, at 3pm for hearing
