Hajie Hulay Camara, the former chief of Jimara district in the Upper River Region, Saja Manneh and Joseph Gomez, a security officer were arraigned last October at the Banjul Magistrates Court and not a single witness has been called to testify in their case since. The trio who are on bail are charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit felony and obtaining money by false pretence.
They are accused of obtaining a credit of 68 million CFA equivalents to D4,583,200 by false pretence from one Amadou Djigue. They are also accused of obtaining a credit of 140 cattle from the same man on the promise that they were going to give him 44 million CFA equivalents to D2,965,600 million which they knew was false. They pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Hakim’s warning came after lawyer Sheriff Tambadou told the court that the case has been dragging and not a single witness has given evidence. He said the former Jimara chief Hajie Hulay Camara, is currently admitted in a hospital in Dakar and is receiving medical treatment.
ASP Musa Camara said he is not the prosecutor in the case. He asked for an adjournment and said the trial cannot proceed in the absence of Mr Camara who is on treatment in Dakar.
In reply, the magistrate stated: “The case shall be adjourned for the last time and also allow the accused to recover. However, if the prosecution fails to proceed on that day, I will have the matter struck out for lack of diligence of the prosecution.” The case will resume October 20.
It could be recalled that the case was sent to the Attorney General Chambers for further directives in December.
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