The criminal case involving Carnegie Mineral Company and its General Manager, Andrew Charles Northfield, was yesterday adjourned before Justice Moses Richard of the Special Criminal Court Division of the High Court.

According to Principal State Counsel S.H Barkun, the case is being handled by the Director of Public Prosecution, Richard N. Chenge, who is expected within the jurisdiction before the end of this week. The case has since been adjourned to 11th September 2009 for hearing.

It could be recalled that, the Carnegie Mineral Company, an Australian Mining Company in The Gambia and its General Manager Andrew Charles Northfield, are standing trial on three counts of economic crimes and one count of theft.

On count one, the particulars of the offence stated that, Carnegie Mineral Gambia (Ltd) and Andrew Charles Northfield, “being persons engaged in heavy mineral sand exploitation between 2006 and December 2007, in diverse places in The Gambia, dishonestly made 40 (forty) shipments of such minerals without given the true and accurate value thereof to the government of The Gambia, and thereby caused serious economic loss to The Gambia”.

On count two, the offence revealed that Carnegie Mineral Company Gambia (Ltd) and Andrew Charles Northfield, “being persons engaged in heavy mineral concentrate exploitation in diverse places in The Gambia, failed to remit to the government of The Gambia the sum of US$ 46,516.95, being part of the royalties due to the government of The Gambia on mineral sands exploited and shipped from The Gambia between 2006 and December 2007, and thereby caused serious economic loss to The Gambia”.

Count three stated that, “Carnegie Mineral Gambia (Ltd) and Andrew Charles Northfield, being persons engaged between 2006 and December 2007, in heavy mineral concentrate exploitation in diverse places in The Gambia, intentionally presented false valuation figures of the aforesaid mineral sands and shipments to the government of The Gambia leading to loss of several million of dollars to the detriment of the economy of The Gambia or the welfare of the people of The Gambia”.

On count four, the particulars of the offence stated that, “Carnegie Mineral Gambia (Ltd) and Andrew Charles Northfield, being persons engaged in heavy mineral sand exploitation to wit illuminate, Zircon and Rutile, between 2006 and December 2007, in diverse places in The Gambia, converted monies realised from The Gambia without giving the proceeds thereof to the government of The Gambia”.