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

The case was first heard before Justice Moses Richard on 21st August 2009, when both the accused persons and their Counsel were absent, while the State was being represented by State Counsel Yusuf.

At yesterday’s sitting, both the accused persons and their Counsel were absent too, while the State was represented by the Deputy Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. M. Abdullah.

The case has since been adjourned to 7th September 2009, for the accused persons or their Counsel to appear before the court.

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 llminite, 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.