Three judges face economic crimes

Three High Court judges alongside two judicial officials are expected to return to court today 15th March 2010 charged with 13 counts of theft, neglect of office, economic crime and forgery.

The accused persons are: Ngui Mboob Janneh, Amina Saho Ceesay, Saffiatou Njie (all judges), Haruna Jaiteh, Judicial Secretary and Alhagie LS Sonko bailiff of the High Court.

They are expected to appear before Justice Moses Richards of the Special Criminal Court of the High Court in Banjul. They were first arraigned before the magistrates court in Banjul on charges of stealing by clerk or servant, which case was adjourned indefinitely on the 22nd January 2010.  The particulars of the offence are as follows:

Count One: Neglect of official duty. The particulars of offence stated thatAlhagie L.S. Sonko sometime between the year 2005 and 2009 at the High Court premises in Banjul, being a public officer, to wit bailiff of the High Court in Banjul, entrusted with the duties of conducting sales by public auction, maintaining proper records of such sales, deducting 4% of the proceeds of such sales, paying same into the account of the Government of The Gambia and maintaining a proper account of such deduction and payment neglected, failed, or refused to perform the said duties without any reasonable excuse.

Count Two: Stealing by public officer. The particulars of offence here stated that Mr. Sonko entrusted with the duties of deducting 4% revenue on all sales by public auction conducted for the High Court, and paying same to the rightful owner, the Government of the Gambia, deducted a total of Dl, 412,282.49 and converted same to his own use by giving the said money to various persons as loans.

Count Three: Stealing by public officer. The particulars of offence here stated that Mr. Sonko as bailiff/assistant Sheriff of the High Court, entrusted with the duties of conducting sales for the High Court by public auction or by private treaty, conducted a sale in the case of Matarr Sosseh & others Vs Serign Jobe whereof the sum of D550, 000 came into his hands officially to pay to the judgment creditor, but he converted the said sum to his own use by giving it out as loans to various persons without consent of the owner.

Count Four: Aiding and abetting stealing by public officer. The particulars of offence here stated that Haruna Jaiteh sometime between the year 2005 and 2009, at the High Court premises in Banjul aided and abetted Alhagie L.S. Sonko in stealing the total sum of D1, 962,282.49, being property of the government of The Gambia by taking the sum of D466, 000 from the said amount from the possession of Alhagie L.S. Sonko for his (Haruna Jaiteh) own use.

Count Five: Forgery. The particulars of the offence stated that Haruna Jaiteh between the year 2005 and 2009 at the High Court premises in Banjul forged invoices belonging to a businessman, Modou Mbye, in order to aid and abet one Alhagie L.S. Sonko steal the total sum of D1, 962,282.49 being the property of the Gambia government.

Count Six: Aiding and abetting stealing by public officer. The particulars of offence stated that Amina Saho-Ceesay sometime between the year 2005 and 2009 at the High Court premises in Banjul aided and abetted Alhagie L.S. Sonko in stealing the total sum of D1, 962,282.49 being the property of The Gambia government by taking the sum of D65, 000 and $1000 from the said amount from the possession of Alhagie L.S. Sonko for her own use.

Count Seven: Aiding and abetting stealing by public officer. The particulars of offence stated that Ngui Mboob Janneh sometime between the year 2005 and 2009 at the High Court premises in Banjul aided and abetted Alhagie L.S. Sonko in stealing the total sum of D1, 962,282.49, being the property of the Gambia government by taking the sum of D233, 000 and Euros 900 from the said amount from the possession of Alhagie L.S. Sonko for her own use.

Count Eight: Aiding and abetting stealing by public officer. The particulars of offence stated that Saffiatou Njie sometime between the year 2005 and 2009 at the High Court premises in Banjul aided and abetted Alhagie L.S. Sonko in stealing the total sum of D1, 962,282.49, being the property of The Gambia government by taking the sum of D350, 000 from the said amount from the possession of Alhagie L.S. Sonko for her use.

Count Nine: Economic Crimes: The particulars of offence stated that Alhagie L.S. Sonko, between the year 2005 and 2009, wilfully caused the loss of the total sum of D1,962,282.49 being the property of The Gambia government by converting the said sum to his own use.

Count Ten: Economic Crimes. The particulars of offence stated that Haruna Jaiteh, between the year 2005 and 2009 willfully caused the loss of the total sum of D466, 000 being the property of The Gambia government by converting the said sum to his own use.

Count Eleven: Economic Crimes. The particulars of offence stated that Saffiatou Njie, between the year 2005 and 2009 wilfully caused the loss of the total sum of D350,000 being the property of the Gambia government by converting the said sum to her own use.

Count Twelve: Economic Crimes. The particulars of the offence stated that Amina Saho Ceesay, between the year 2005 and 2009 wilfully caused the loss or the total sum of D65,000 and $1000 being the property of the Gambia government by converting the said sum to her own use.

Count Thirteen: Economic Crimes. The particulars of offence stated that Ngui Mboob-Janneh between the year 2005 and 2009 willfully caused the loss of the total sum of D233, 000 and Euros 900 being the property of The Gambia government by converting the said sum to her own use.