Prosecutor asked for time to familiarize in GNOC trial

• Badjie claims State Agents plotted against him

Beatrice Allen

Inspector Darboe, the new prosecutor in the theft case against three senior GNOC officials has told the Kanifing Court he needs time to familiarize himself with the case.

Darboe took charge of the case on May 18, after it was reported that Prosecutor Inspector Mballow has been moved to the Brikama district Magistrate Court.

Mrs. Beatrice Allen, 1^st Vice President, Mr. Ousman Wadda, Treasurer and Mr. Muhammad Janneh, Accountant of the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) are accused of theft, an allegation they have denied.

On 18^th May, 2011 when the case was called at the Kanifing Municipal Magistrate Court presided by Sheriff B. Tabally, Darboe applied for an adjournment to familiarise himself with the case.

The accused persons were not in court on Wednesday but their defence counsel Ida Drammeh was present and she raised no objection to the application for an adjournment. Magistrate Tabally granted the application and asked him to bring a witness in the next sitting of 23^rd May, 2011.Source - The Voice

• Badjie claims State Agents plotted against him

Ensa Badjie

Ensa Badjie, the erstwhile Inspector General of Police (IGP) has said he is not the only IGP to be charged to Court.

Continuing his cross-examination on May 18, 2011 at the Special Criminal Division of the High Court in Banjul before Justice Joseph Ikpala, he said “the IGP before me was arraigned in Court and charge for criminal offences, while others were detained and later release.”

Badjie also said he feels that the panel of investigators of the National Intelligence Agency plotted against him. He argued that he did not use his Mercedes vehicle on official duties and denies giving his vehicle to Dodou Janneh, the 8^th prosecution witness. He said the vehicle which was in possession of Janneh and Soriba Condeh; the 1^st prosecution witness is still parked at the Serrekunda police station.

“I never commanded Omar Jahateh that when taking Soriba Condeh and Co. to Court to be escorted by only one officer and the driver, Omar Jahateh was not under my command,” he said.

Asked about Prosecutor Omar Jahateh’s whereabouts, Badjie said he did not know his whereabouts since he is in prison. He added that he is not aware of Jahateh being charge together with him and later flee the country.

Badjie argued that he came to know Soriba Condeh, Muhammad Camara alias Langaman and Ebrima Suma the day they were arrested.

Badjie, who said he last visited City Pub in Serrekunda in 2006, denied being a friend to the owner, Tony Yaya Bah. However, he admitted that have a license operate the pub and committed no crime warrant an arrest. Source - The Voice