Ten security guards at the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) were yesterday arraigned before Principal Magistrate Hilary Abeke of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, charged with conspiracy and neglect of official duties.
They are Baboucarr Badjie, Mambuna Njie, Marie Conteh, Ndambung Fatty, Fakebba Manga, Bakary Sambou, Sam Pierre Mendy, Papa Keita, Musa Kebbeh and Alagi Sonko.
Prosecutors on count one alleged that between November 2011 and January 2012, at the Gambia maritime Seaport and in diverse other places within the jurisdiction of this court, the ten accused persons conspired to commit a misdemeanor, that is, to neglect their official duties and thereby committed an offence.
In count two, the ten accused persons, it was alleged, neglected to perform their official duties, which resulted in the removal of the container belonging to Maersk shipping agency from the Gambia seaport without due authority and documentation, and thereby committed an offence.
Count three alleged that they neglected to perform their officials duties, which resulted in the clearing of a container loaded with motor vehicles as an empty container from the seaport without the necessary documentation and authorization, and thereby committed an offence.
In applying for bail on behalf of his clients, defence counsel Mustapha Marong told the court that all the accused persons are family men with several children.
He added that if the accused persons are granted bail they would not jump bail.
In response, the prosecution said they were not opposing bail for the accused persons, as bail was at the discretion of the court.
The court then grant them bail in the sum of D100,000 each with two Gambian sureties each, and one of the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means.
The case was adjourned to 9 December 2013, for hearing.
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