3 Senior Agric Officials’ Trial Adjourned to October

By Kebba Jeffang The High Court in Banjul presided over by Justice Simeon Ateh Abi on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 adjourned the trial of the three former high ranking Agric officials to October following the prosecution’s application for an adjournment due to the absence of the witness to commence the trial. Lamin Fatajo, former Project Coordinator of the Rural Finance project, Muhammed Lamin Mass, former Acting Finance and Administrative Manager of the same project, and Madam Ada Gaye, former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, are charged with 11 counts including ‘Abuse of Office, ‘Economic Crime’ and ‘Neglect of Official Duty. When the case was called, A. Adiayemi announced his representation for the state whilst Lawyers Edward Singhatey and Borry S. Touray appeared for the 1^st and 2^nd accused persons. Counsel Sheriff S.M Tambedou for the 3^rd accused was not in court. All the accused persons were present in court. At this stage, the state counsel stood up to apply for an adjournment. She said the witness is absent and that they do not have other witnesses to start up the case. The defence counsel Borry S. Touray, before commenting on the application, informed the court that he was still not served by the prosecution with any document attached to the amended charge sheet. He said this is a step they have to pass. However, after a short discussion between the two, he told the court that the prosecutor said she has served him through his clerk, though he was yet to receive it. He, therefore, did no object to the application for adjournment. The court and counsels finally agreed to adjourn the case for hearing on the 13^th October, 2015.  ]]>