By Kemeseng Sanneh (KEXX)
State Counsels from the Ministry of Justice have informed the high court they are searching for Khadija Kebbeh to arrest her, but they do not know her whereabouts.
Kebbeh, a former employee of GACH Global is charged with one count of money laundering and three counts of stealing by the State but she is yet to be apprehended. She was on police bail, but she jumped bail and her whereabouts remain unknown to the State.
Kebbeh is the wife of the former general manager of Gam Petroleum Storage Facility, Saihou Drammeh who was charged with economic crime charges. Drammeh, however, was acquitted and discharged on the charges following the prosecution’s failure to prove his guilt.
Kebbeh’s case is before Justice Achibongo of the high court. It first came on 30 January 2023 but it could not proceed because she was not served with the indictment.
The Judge made an order for her to be served with the processes. The matter came on 16 February 2023 for the second time but the case could not proceed. The State indicated that they went to her house but she was not there.
Then the Judge ordered again for the State to make efforts to serve her with the processes, adding that a mere visit to someone’s house and not seeing someone does not mean the person is not unavailable.
The presiding Judge asked the State to reflect on the way forward in the case. The case is adjourned to 20th March 2023.
On count one, Khadija is charged with stealing contrary to section 260(d) of the Criminal Code. It is alleged that Khadijah Kebbeh sometime in October 2021 in Kanifing Municipality and diverse place in the Ganmbia stole the sum of two million dalasis (D2,000,000) belonging to GACH Global Trading Company.
On count two, Khadija is charged with Stealing contrary to section 260(d) of the Criminal Code. According to particulars of the offence, Khadijah Kebbeh sometime in October 2021 in Kanifing Municipality and diverse places in the Gambia stole the sum of $20,0000 (Twenty thousand US dollars) belonging to GACH Global Trading Company.
On count three, Khadija is charged with Stealing contrary to section 260(d) of the Criminal Code. It is alleged that Khadijah Kebbeh sometime in October 2021 in Kanifing Municipality and diverse places in the Gambia stole the sum of €749,965.00 (Seven hundred and forty-nine thousand, nine hundred and sixty-five Euros) belonging to belonging to GACH Global Trading Company.
On count four (4), Khadija is charged with Laundering contrary to section 22 (a) of the Anti-MoneyLaunderingand FinancingAct 2012. According to the particulars of the offence, the prosecution alleged that Khadijah Kebbeh between 2021 and 2022 at Kanifing Municipality and diverse places in the Gambia for purposes of disguising or concealing the illicit money converted and/or transferred into bank accounts monies knowing that monies are proceeds of unlawful activity.
