Former Lands and Local Government Minister Lamin Waa Juwara is facing a new charge, this time at the Brikama magistrates court where he was arraigned on Monday charged with abuse of office.
Waa Juwara appeared before magistrate Jobarteh, and he denied the charge.
He was then granted court bail of D500,000 with two Gambian sureties.
The charge sheet stated that former Minister Waa Juwara some time in 2012, at Sinchu Gidom village in the West Coast Region, being an employee of the Gambia government as Minister of Local Government, Lands and Regional Administration, abused the authority of his office in a manner that was prejudicial to the alkalo (village head) and the elders of Jamburr village by creating Sinchu Gidom as village and appointed one Bubacarr Sillah as an alkalo of the said village, knowing that Sinchu Gidom is a kabilo within Jamburr village.
The case was adjourned to 17 September 2014, for continuation.
It would be recalled that Waa Juwara is presently on trial at the Banjul magistrates court, along with two co-accused persons charged with several counts, including negligence of official duties.