Mr Alhagie Darboe, a clerk at the Bayba Financial Company on Thursday 5th March 2009 appeared at the Brikama High Court before Justice Ngui Mboob-Janneh on charges of economic crime.

Mr Darboe, who was arrested on a bench warrant following his failure to appear in court on two occasions is accused of causing the loss of nine hundred and twenty-nine thousand, six hundred and twelve dalasis (D929, 612) to Bayba Financial Company.

According to the particulars of the offence, between January 2007 and June 2008 in Brusubi, being an employee of Bayba Financial Company, the accused Alhagie Darboe caused the loss of nine hundred and twenty-nine thousand, six hundred and twelve dalasis (D929, 612) to Bayba Financial Company, whose funds are partly provided by the Government of The Gambia, by intentionally withdrawing from an inactive customer account and thereby dishonestly acquiring the property of the said Company.

However, when the charge sheet was read to him, the accused could not take his plea based on the grounds that his defence counsel, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, submitted that his client would not enter his plea because the information was not filed in court. He added that there was no court that has been informed about the matter.

In his reply, State counsel Shanaka said there was a very hypothetical and technical objection made by the defense counsel.

In her ruling, Presiding judge Ngui Mboob-Janneh over ruled the objection made by the defense counsel and urged that the case continue, and the case was subsequently adjourned to the 23rd March 2009.