By KebbaJeffang
The criminal case of Mr. Borry J. Saidy, acting Air Traffic Manager at
the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), who is charged with giving
false information to the office of the President, could not proceed again at
the Brikama Magistrates’ Court on Monday, January 18, 2016.The matter was adjourned outside court with the consent of both
parties despite the fact that the accused, the defence, the
prosecution and the witness, FabakaryKalleh, were all present in
court, including magistrate Abeke. Lawyer Borry S. Touray appeared for
the defence, while police Sub Inspector Sarr represented the
prosecution.
When approached to find out the next adjourned date, the court clerk
informed this reporter that the case will resume on Wednesday, 20th
January, 2015.
The case has been ongoing for nearly one year now and faced a series
of adjournments. Since after it was mentioned in court, there is only
one witness who is now at the stage of cross examination.
At the inception of the trial in March, 2015, counsel for the accused
person submitted an application urging for the matter to be struck out
since the receiver of the information is the office of the president
who, he said, is not a public officer.
However, the then trial magistrate Omar Cham dismissed the application
in his ruling allowing the matter to commence.
Mr. Saidy is charged with a single count of giving false information
to a public servant contrary to Section 114 of CPC Cap 10, Vol 3
Revised Laws of the Gambia, 2009.
The particulars of offense states that the accused person on or about
the 27th November, 2014 at Banjul International Airport in the West
Coast Region and diverse places in the Gambia, while serving as Acting
Air Traffic Service Manager, he wrote to the Office of the President
claiming an unfair treatment among others, which he knew or believed
to be false, thereby committed an offense.
He was granted bail on condition that he produces 3 sureties who
should sign a bond of D200.000 and deposit their ID cards.
