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Momodou
Denmark
11851 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Mar 2008 : 16:07:29
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Bai Ousman, Batata, In Court For Alleged Visa Deal
By Fabakary B. Ceesay & Bubacarr K. Sowe
Two ex-permanent secretaries at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Bai Ousman Secka and Mahamadu Batata S. Juwara respectively appeared before magistrate Imelda Mboto of the Banjul Magistrates Court on Tuesday 4 March, charged with six different counts of offences. They all pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them.
The statement of offence indicates; conspiracy to committee felony, contrary to section 368 of the Criminal Code. The statement states, Bai Ousman Secka and Mahamadou Batata S. Juwara sometimes in 2007,while employed in the civil service of The Gambia at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs in Banjul and other places in the Gambia, conspired together to commit a felony to wit; procuring visa with false information and thereby committed an offence.
On count two, the statement indicates; making false document without authority contrary to section 332 (a) of the Criminal Code. The particulars stated that Bai Ousman Secka and Mahamadou Batata S. Juwara on or about the 23 day of August 2007, at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs in the city of Banjul, in The Gambia, with intent to deceive, “make a verbal addressed to the American Embassy for the issuing of American Visa to Ms. Isatou Njie on the ground that she is scheduled to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York scheduled for September 2007, which information they knew to be false and thereby committed an offence.:”
Count three states; making false document without authority contrary to section 332 (a) of the Criminal Code. Particulars of offence indicate that Bai Ousman Secka and Mahamadou Batata S. Juwara, on or about the 23 day of August 2007 at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs in the city of Banjul, in the Republic of The Gambia, with intent to deceive, they made a note verbal addressed to the American Embassy for the issue of American Visa to Ebou Manneh on the ground that he has been officially posted to the Gambia High Commission in New York, which information they knew to be false and thereby committed an offence.
On count four, it states uttering false document contrary to section 332 (b) of the Criminal Code. The particulars state that, Mahamadou Batata S. Juwara while employed in the civil service of the Gambia at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs in Banjul, The Gambia, he sometime in 2007 with intent to deceive, knowingly presented a false note verbal dated 23 August 2007, to the American Embassy knowing the same to be false and thereby committed an offence.
Count five states that, Abuse of office contrary to section 90 of the Criminal Code. Particulars indicated that, Bai Ousman Secka and Mahamadou Batata S. Juwara sometimes in the year 2007, while employed in the civil service of the Government of the Gambia at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia, they procured American Visa for Ms. Isatou Njie in abuse of their office and thereby committed an offence.
Count six states Abuse of office contrary to section 90 of the criminal code, laws of The Gambia. The particulars of offence states that Bai Ousman Secka and Mahamadou Batata S. Juwara, sometimes in the year 2007, whilst employed in the public service of The Gambia in the Department of State for Foreign Affairs, they procured American Visa for Ebo Manneh in abuse of their office and thereby committed an offence.
Both the accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges. However count four only implicates Mr. Juwara.
Their defence counsels applied for bail as the offences are bailable. They were granted bail in the sum of D500,000 dalasi each and to provide two Gambians reasonable sureties. The state was represented by Inspector Yaya Touray, while Lawyer Borry S. Touray, Mrs. Hawa Ceesay Sabally, Amie Joof Conteh and Momodou Lamin Drammeh, stood for the defendants.
Source:Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 27/2008, 5 – 6 March 2008
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