Magistrate Assan Martin yesterday confirmed to The Point that his service with the Gambian Judiciary had been terminated.

According to him, his termination was based on misconduct and allegations that he had benefited from government’s funds.

In an interview with The Point, Mr Martin said the allegations were that while he was on a study leave in Sierra Leone, payments of salaries were made to his accounts of which money was remitted to him in Sierra Leone in 2003.

On his return, according to Mr Martin, this mistake was done on the part of the Treasury and the Accountant General’s office.

“This issue was explained and settled by the Accountant General’s office that deductions were made from my salaries since the last ten months,” Mr Martin said.

Almost three-quarter of the money had been deducted, he added. 

“It is because of my outspokenness based on the truth and sincerity that I was made a victim on this issue,” Mr Martin explained.

He continued:  “There are those who don’t want the truth and sincerity to the government, that I have served the government and I have no regret on this because I have served as a teacher, civil servant, prosecutor and a magistrate in all regions in the country, and lately in the Western Division.

“I also explained that I have pride in my records and I re-iterated that I have never profited from any government funds and that I will be vindicated if given the opportunity, that the said issue is a pretext to see me out of the judiciary.

“My sincere and honest pronouncement usually in the media is to help Gambians to better their lives, because I believe that man’s biggest challenge or question is what you are doing for the others.”

Mr Martin said further that his termination was no surprise to him. “It doesn’t come to me as a surprise, and I have taken this termination in good faith, as I wish those that deliberated on this issue all the best of life. One thing is that I will never deviate from my truth.”