By Mamadou Dem
Mr. Ebrima Jawara, the former Coordinator of the Central Projects Coordinating Unit (CPCU) of the ministry of 
agriculture was yesterday, 14th December, 2015 arraigned before acting Principal Magistrate Omar Jabang on a single count charge of “Punishment for malicious injuries in general”.
The prosecution alleges that Mr. Jawara on the 24th of November, 2015 at Central Projects Coordinating Unit Office (CPCU) situated at the ministry of agriculture in Banjul had changed the locker in the coordinator’s office without lawful authority and thereby committed an offence.
Mr. Jawara, however, pleaded not guilty to the charged and was granted bail.
In his application for bail, Lawyer Modou Drammeh, counsel for Mr. Jawara submitted that the charged meted against the accused is a misdemeanor, adding that his client has no criminal records and that he is a family man with three children and has served the Government of The Gambia up to the position of a Permanent Secretary.
The defence counsel urged the court to admit his client to bail taking into cognizance sections 99 and 312 sub section 9 of the Criminal Procedure Code (as well as section 24 of the Constitution.
Magistrate Jabang, in his ruling, said “since the prosecution is not opposed to bail and there is no evidence of flight risk, the accused is admitted to bail in the sum of D50, 000 with two Gambian sureties who must swear to an affidavit of means and deposits their National Identity Cards to the court registrar.”
Meanwhile, the case was adjourned to 29th of this month for hearing.
Mr. Jawara is also facing other criminal charges at the high court of The Gambia.
