Waa Juwara, 2 others charged

Police prosecutors have brought charges against Lamin Waa Juwara, former Minister of Regional Administrations, Lands and Traditional Rulers, Hamidou Jallow, Principal Lands and Evaluation Officer, and one Tamsir Onasis Konteh, at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court before acting Principal Magistrate Dawda K. Jallow.

It would be recalled that Lamin Waa Juwara, leader and founder of opposition NDAM party, was appointed Minister of Regional Administration, Lands and Traditional Rulers, after last serving as Governor for the Lower River Region.

He was later removed as Minister of Regional Administrations, Lands and Traditional Rulers and later, according to sources, he was appointed Gambia’s High Commissioner to Senegal.

Count one of the particulars of offence indicated that Tamsir Onasis Konteh and Hamidou Jallow, in November 2011 in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, conspired to use forged documents to claim compensation in respect of Tanji Residential Layout and thereby committed an offence.

Count two stated that Tamsir Onasis Konteh, in November 2011 in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, made a document purported to be land title documents issued by the Alkalo of Tanji village in order to claim compensation in respect of plots acquired for Tanji Residential Layout, and thereby committed an offence.

Count three read that Tamsir Onasis Konteh, in November 2011 in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, knowingly and fraudulently uttered false documents in order to claim compensation in respect of the plots acquired for Tanji Residential Layout, and thereby committed an offence.

Count four stated that Tamsir Onasis Konteh, in November 2011 in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, with intent to defraud obtained D300, 000 from one Edward T.  Sambou as consideration for a plot of land at Tanji Residential Layout with knowledge that the said plots were allocated to him under questionable circumstances, and thereby committed an offence

Count five disclosed that Hamidou Jallow, in November 2011 in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, being employed in the public service and in his capacity as Principal Lands and Evaluation Officer caused plots of land (Nos. C8 and C9) to be allocated as compensation to Tamsir Onasis Knoteh, with knowledge that the said plots were already allocated to Kanilai Family Farms and Mr. Basirou Sambou respectively, and with the knowledge that the said Tamsir Onasis Konteh was not qualified for any and thereby committed and offence

Count six stated that Hamidou Jallow, in November 2011 in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, being employed in the public service and in his capacity as Principal Lands and Evaluation Officer caused plots of land (Nos. C8 and C9), to be allocated as compensation to Tamsir Onasis Konteh against the laid down procedure for the award of compensation, and thereby committed an offence.

Count seven read that Hamidou Jallow, in November 2011 in Banjul within jurisdiction of the court, being employed in the public service and his capacity as Principal Lands Evaluation Officer and in disobedience of the order of the Director of Lands caused compensation to be paid to Tamsir Onasis Konteh, and thereby committed an offence.

Count eight stated that Lamin Waa Juwara, in November 2011 in Banjul within the jurisdiction of the court, being employed in the public service and in his capacity as Minister of Regional Administrations, Lands and Traditional Rulers, by willful negligent act caused plots of land (Nos. C8 and C9) to be allocated as compensation to Tamsir Onasis Konateh, with knowledge that the said plots were already allocated to Kanilai Family Farms and Mr. Basirou Sambou respectively, and with the knowledge that the said Tamsir Onasis Konteh was not qualified for any, and thereby committed an offence.

They all denied the charge.

Lawyer Abdoulie Sissoho, who represented Hamidou Jallow, the second accused person, said the case started since 2011 and his client had being reporting without being absent for a single day.

He added that he was called upon at the NIA main office in Banjul, where he was granted bail, and subsequently a panel was formed to investigate the matter.

According to counsel, upon completion of the investigation, the case file was forwarded to AG’s Chambers and the charge sheet was at the office of the DPP and later sent to the police for possible prosecution.

The first accused person, Tamsir Onasis Konteh, also made a similar application for bail.

The third accused person, Lamin Waa Juwara, also told the court that he would be available anytime the court needs him.

The trial magistrate later announced that bail was at the discretion of the court.

“The alleged offence committed is bailable offence, and I also take into account that the accused persons were on police bail,” the magistrate said.

He granted the accused persons bail on the following conditions:

The first accused, Tamsir Onasis Konteh, was granted bail of D200, 000 with two Gambian sureties, one of whom must have landed property within the Greater Banjul Area.

The condition further stated that one of the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means.

The second accused person was also granted bail of D200, 000 with two Gambian sureties one of whom must deposit a title deed within the Greater Banjul Area.

The condition further stated that one of the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means.

The third accused, Lamin Waa Juwara, was granted bail of D50, 000 with two Gambian sureties who must deposit their National Identification Cards with the court.

The court further ordered that all the accused persons should be reporting to the police every Wednesday.

The case was then adjourned till 17 April 2013.