By Bruce Asemota
The High Court in Banjul, presided over by Justice Ebrima Jaiteh has issued an arrest warrant for Banta Keita and has remanded his co-accused, Sheriff Njie at Mile 2 Prisons.
The order for the warrant was made on Wednesday, August 18th following an application made by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to the court which also remanded Banta Keita’s co-accused, Sheriff Njie in prison.
Sheriff Njie had been under the custody of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG) but the Attorney General had now thought it wise to detain him at the prisons.
Banta Keita, also known as Lassana Keita, co-accused of Sheriff Njie is at large and both are charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit drug trafficking and aggravated drug trafficking whilst Banta Keita is also charged with seven counts of money laundering.
The case file alleged that Banta Keita on or about the 6th January 2016 at Fajara, Kanifing Municipality engaged in an illicit transaction by converting the sum of 24.000 Euros by purchasing a land at Fajara Water Front, knowing or having reasons to believe that the said money was a proceed of crime.
Banta was also alleged to have on the 7th January, 2016 at EcoBank Gambia Limited concealed an illicit origin of the sum of seven million, one hundred and eight thousand, two hundred and six dalasi, twenty-seven bututs by converting the said money into Eco Bank account knowing or having reason to believe that the said money was a proceed of crime.
He was also alleged between 2016 and 2019 at Fajara that he concealed the illicit origin of the sum of twenty thousand United States Dollars by converting the said money by purchasing a white speed boat marked DORAL IBIZA cc with a 250 horse speed engine knowing or having reason to believe that the said money was a proceed of a crime.
Banta Keita is alleged to have on the 3rd April, 2019 in Banjul concealed an illicit origin of two million dalasi by converting the said money by purchasing a Range Rover knowing or having reason to believe that the said money was a proceed of a crime.
He is also alleged between 2020 and 2021 at Fajara and diverse places concealed the illicit origin of the sum of twenty-one thousand, three hundred and fifty United States Dollars by converting the said money by purchasing industrial salt conveyed in three containers, knowing or having reason to believe that the said money was a proceed of a crime.
The arrest warrant issued by the High Court would ginger the INTERPOL to swing into action and arrest Banta Keita.
