The trial of Bai Ousman Secka and Mahamadou Batata S. Juwara, former senior officials at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs, resumed last Thursday before Magistrate Lamin George of Banjul Magistrates’ Court.

The case could not however proceed as the first accused, Bai Ousman Secka, and his counsel were not in court.

The duo has been standing trial on charges of conspiracy to commit a felony, making false document, uttering false document and abuse of office.

It is alleged that the accused persons sometime in 2007, while employed in the civil service of The Gambia at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs in Banjul and other places, conspired together to commit a felony, to wit procuring visa with false information and thereby committed an offence.

It is also alleged that the accused persons, on or about 23rd August 2007 at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs in the city of Banjul, with intent to deceive, made a Note Verbal addressed to the American Embassy for the issue of an American visa to one Ms Isatou Njie on the grounds that she was 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.

Furthermore the charge sheet stated that the accused persons on or about 23rd August 2007 at the Department of State for Foreign in the city of Banjul, with intent to deceive, made a note verbal addressed to the American Embassy for the issue of American visa to Ebou Manneh on the supposed grounds that he had been officially posted to The Gambia High Commission in New York, which information they knew to be false and thereby committed an offence.

The charge continued that Mahamadou Batata Juwara, while employed at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs, sometime in 2007, with intent to deceive, knowingly presented a false note verbal dated 23rd August 2007 to the American Embassy, knowing the same to be false and thereby committed an offence

It also alleged that the accused persons sometime in 2007, while employed at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs, procured an American visa for Ms Isatou Njie in abuse of their office and thereby committed an offence; that the accused persons sometime in 2007, while being employed at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs, procured an American Visa for Ebou Manneh in abuse of their office and thereby committed an offence.

The case was then adjourned to 21st August 2008.