Dr. Badara Loum and Suruwa Jaiteh, former Permanent Secretaries at the Department of State for Agriculture, on 8th April 2009 maintained innocence of the economic crime charge the state had brought against them.

They are both standing trial at the Banjul High Court before Justice Joseph Wowo on a charge of economic crime involving the loss of revenue of D1, 471, 251 to the state.

According to the alleged offence, the two accused persons as permanent secretaries at the Department of State for Agriculture being the accounting officers thereof and entrusted with the responsibility of distributing and selling 4775 metric tone of NPK and 2229 metric tone of Urea fertiliser valued at D51,480,100, wilfully or by omission or recklessly handled the same and thereby caused financial loss to the tune of D1,471,251 which is detrimental to the economy of The Gambia and thereby committed an offence.

The case has been adjourned until 19th May 2009.