By Mamadou Dem
State Prosecutor Mam Jobe, assisted by state counsel E.R. Dugan 
yesterday, Tuesday, 19 august, 2014 applied for the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, presided over by Magistrate Muhammed Krubally, to allow the state ample time to enable it trace Sillaba Samateh and present him before the court for trial.
The state has filed five criminal counts at the Banjul Magistrates’ court against one Sillaba Samateh, a businessman, which include transporting money (Euro) into The Gambia, money laundering, obtaining money by false pretence, sedition, etc.
When the case was called yesterday for mention, Magistrate Krubally said “since the state said they were not served with hearing notice, for the benefit of doubt, this case shall be adjourned to Wednesday 10th September, 2014.”
The trial Magistrate noted that the case was earlier mentioned on the 11th of August 2014, but both parties were absent in court, adding that he made an order for a hearing notice to be served on the state.
In response, Mam Jobe, state prosecutor, told the court that she did not receive any hearing notice and was also not aware as to whether the state was served. She therefore urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable them track down the accused and present him before the court.
According to the particulars of offence for count one, the aforesaid person on various dates between 2008 and 2010, transported money (Euro) into Brusubi, Banjul and other places in the Gambia from Holland, the United Kingdom and other places in the World with the intent of concealing the illegal and or illicit origin and source of the money.
The statement of offence on count two states that on diverse dates between 2008 and 2010 in Brusubi, Banjul and other places in the Gambia within the jurisdiction of the court, acquired moveable and immoveable property with the proceeds of the monies unlawfully obtained from outside the Gambia with the aim of concealing or disguising the illicit source of the money.
The prosecution further alleged on count three that Mr. Sillah between the months of May and June 2009 at Brusubi within the jurisdiction of the court with intent to defraud, received the sum of €10,000 from Umar Ndow under the false pretence that you will apply the said money for the procurement of spare parts to carry out repairs on a military Helicopter intended for use in the transportation of Gold to Freetown in Sierra Leone.
On count four, the particulars of offence states that the same accused person between the months of May and June 2009 at Brusubi within the jurisdiction of the court with intent to defraud, received various sums of money amounting to D64, 000 from Umar Ndow, Mohamed Ceesay Ikemefuna D. Izuchukwu under the false pretences that you have in your possessions, Cocaine which was given to you by the President of the Gambia for sale at Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The particulars of offence for count five states that at various places in the Gambia between the months of May and December 2009 with intent to bring the President of the Gambia into hatred, contempt and or disaffection uttered seditions words to various members of the public to wit: “the president of the Gambia called me to return from Holland to Gambia to come and handle his cocaine business.”
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