By Mamadou Dem
Former Minister of Transport, Works and Construction, Mr. Ousman Badjie, 
who was arraigned and remanded by the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 18 November, 2014 is being accused of failing to pursue the case of an alleged theft of twenty-seven thousand Euros with the French Government while serving as Gambia’s ambassador in that country.According to the particulars of offence on count one, Mr. Badjie, between the 14th to the 30th June, 2014 in Banjul and diverse places, whilst serving as Gambia’s head of mission in France has intentionally failed to pursue the case of a stolen twenty- seven thousand Euros equivalent to (D1,134000,00) one million one hundred and thirty- four thousand Dalasi involving one Faisal Bojang with the French Government and which is an omission shown to be detrimental to the economy of The Gambia, and thereby committed an offence.
Count two states that Mr. Badjie, whilst serving as the head of the Gambian mission in France, has wilfully neglected to perform his duty for the French Government to pursue Faisal Bojang to recover the embezzled amount of twenty-seven thousand Euros, thereby committed an offence.
As for the third count, the accused is alleged to have on the same date and year, whilst being the Gambia’s head of mission in France, wilfully neglected to perform his duty to pursue the Police declaration, that the signature of the deputy head of mission was forged and thereby committed an offence.
Readers could recall that Mr. Badjie appeared before the said court late in the evening of Tuesday 18th November, 2014 and pleaded not guilty to the one count of ‘Economic Crime’ and two counts of negligence of official duties contrary to the laws of the Gambia.
The presiding Magistrate, Magistrate Dawda Jallow, transferred the matter to the Chief Justice for re-assignment.
When the matter was mentioned in court, the accused person was not represented by counsel. He is currently detained at the Mile 2 prison pending his appearance before the superior court.]]>
