Son of ex-Gambian president charged for corruption

The duo are Ebrima Jawara, Dr Alasan Bah, Sulayman Manneh, Lamin Fatajo and Momodou Lamin Mass both working at the Ministry of Agriculture are accused of allocating themselves a monthly fuel allowance of over 8 million Gambian dalasi equivalent to 196,831.76 U.S. dollars for two months.

Their case has now transferred to High court in Banjul, after previously appeared before Magistrate Fatou Darboe of the Banjul Magistrates.

They were on Sept. 7 arraigned before Magistrate Darboe on a ten-count charge including economic crime, stealing by clerk or servant, theft and abuse of office.

After their plea taking, the police prosecutor, Inspector A. Manga, applied for the matter to be transferred to the High Court on the grounds that the said magistrates’court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case, and urged the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody.

The presiding magistrate, based on section 9 of the Economic Crime Act, ordered that the case be transferred to the Office of the Chief Justice for re-assignment and the accused persons be remanded in prison custody. Enditem