By Rohey Jadama
Malick Sillah, a Senior Accountant, has testified as the third
prosecution witness (PW3) in the trial involving Mr. Ousman Badjie, the former Works, Transport and Construction Minister before Simeon A. Abi of the Banjul High Court yesterday, 10th March, 2015.Mr. Badjie is facing two counts of negligence of duty and one count of
economic crime.
When the case was called, lawyer Lamin S. Camara announced his
appearance for the accused, while A.M. Yusuf appeared for the state.
The third prosecution witness (PW3) identified himself as Malick
Sillah, a Senior Accountant at Accountant General’s office. He told
the court that he recognized the accused person and that he does not
know Faisal Bojang but he used to hear about him. He further told the
court that Faisal Bojang is a financial attaché at the Gambian Embassy
in France.
PW3 told the court that between 14 to 30th June, he was part of a group
of people who went to the Gambian Embassy in Paris to look into its
activities from the time Faisal took over. The witness told the court
that they checked the accounts from November to December 2014,
reviewed January to June, went to the bank and finally prepared a
report which they submitted.
At this juncture, he was asked by state counsel Yusuf whether he will
be able to recognise the report if shown to him. PW 3 responded in the
positive.
A document was shown to him and after observing it closely, he
confirmed that it was it.
State counsel Yusuf then applied to tender the report. Without any
objection raised by the defence, the Court admitted the report and
marked it as Exhibit C.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel Camara, the witness was
asked whether he told the court that Faisal Bojang works for the
Accountant General’s office. He responded in the affirmative.
PW3 was further asked by the defence whether Faisal Bojang being the
financial attaché in France was also a staff of the Accountant
General’s office. The witness responded in the positive.
“As financial Attaché, do you know who he was answerable to?” asked
defence counsel Camara.
The witness told the Court that Mr. Bojang was answerable to the head
of chancery according to the Foreign Service Regulations.
“In the case of France, was there a head of chancery?” enquired
Counsel Camara.
“There was none. It was the deputy head of mission who was the head of
chancery,” responded PW3.
The case was subsequently adjourned to 24th, 25th and 26th of March
2015 respectively for continuation.
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