Momodou Sabally who was charged with one count of economic crime and two counts of abuse of office, all relating to a Youth Career Development Programme organised by one Mariama Sillah in May 2014 is now facing eight charges. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of economic crime, three counts of abuse of office, two counts of neglect of official duty and one count of giving false information.
Mr Sabally 40, is accused of giving false information to President Jammeh that one Alasan Ndoye had given him two vehicles with intent to annoy and cause financial loss to Mr Ndoye, information he knew is false.
On the economic crime charges, Sabally is accused of causing economic loss to Social Security Housing Financial Corparation in the amount of D402,500 by unduly influencing SSHFC to fund the programme without recourse to due process.
He is further accused of causing economic loss to the government of The Gambia in the amount of D38,424 being money received as per diem allowance for a trip to South Africa in order to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Jacob Zuma, which he neglected to attend.
According to the indictment, Sabally also ‘willfully’ and ‘negligently’ delayed the departure of the vice president’s flight from South Africa for 45 minutes while part of the delegation.
After denying all the allegations, his lawyer, Antouman Gaye, said there is a pending bail application which the state opposes. “I was ready to make my application but when I came to court I was served with an affidavit in opposition to the bail application,” he said asking the court to hear his application today. However, Justice Abdullahi Mikailu said it was not convenient to the court and adjourned the case to October 27 for both parties to argue on the issue of bail.
Meanwhile, Sabally was taken back to Mile 2 central prison. He was remanded at Mile 2 last week after spending more than three months at the National Intelligence Agency.
Unlike the last adjourned date, family members, and well-wishers seated in the gallery were calm.
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