Messrs Jaw, Kandeh and Titus who were represented by lawyer Segga Gaye pleaded not guilty to two counts of disobedience of statutory duty, conspiracy to commit misdemeanour and a charge of failure to register a business. When the case was initially mentioned before Magistrate Samsideen Conteh, the prosecutor Abdurrahman Bah appearance for the state while there was no representation for the accused persons. As the charges were read out to the accused persons by the court clerk, Mr Jaw intimated to the court that he would not enter plea in the absence of his lawyer. He informed the presiding magistrate that he needed to secure the services of a lawyer and had contacted his lawyer who informed him that he was on his way to the court. This prompted the state counsel to request the matter to be stood down temporarily. When the case resumed again after arrival of the counsel, all the accused denied any culpability.
The bill of indictment filed by the state prosecutor on count one revealed that in October this year, Jaw, Kandeh and Titus had conspired to commit an offence to wit; operating and carrying on a business without registration.
The particulars of offence on count two stated that the above mentioned persons in the same month and year engaged themselves and carried on the business of collating data for Ghanaian company, FACTS International Ghana Limited without registering as required by the law.
On count three, prosecutors alleged that the three men, in willful disobedience of the Statistics Act, undertook the collation of data FACTS International Ghana Limited without authorisation from the Gambia Bureau of Statistics.
Immediately after taking their plea, lawyer Segga Gaye applied for their release on bail which was not objected by the state counsel. The state counsel only reminded the court about the nationality of the second and third accused person whom he said were Nigerian and Ghanaian citizens noting that if they were to be granted bail it should be such that they would not flee the jurisdiction.
After listening to both parties, the presiding magistrate adjourned the matter to Christmas eve and ordered for the accused persons to be remanded in custody pending the outcome of the ruling on bail.
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