Seven men were yesterday, 17th August 2009, re-arraigned before Justice Richard of the Special Criminal Court, at the Banjul High Court on charges of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, obstructing security officers in  due execution of their duties and being in possession of prohibited drugs.

Tijan Ndure, Karamo Drammeh, Fernador Co, Ansumana Fatty, Lamin Karbo, Baboucarr Cham and Lamin Simmah, were first arraigned at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court on suspicion of secretly working together to do illegal acts.

The case was yesterday mentioned at the Special Criminal Court for plea-taking on five counts of the alleged criminal offences.

According to count one, the statement of offence stated that the accused persons are charged with conspiracy to defraud.

The particulars of the offence revealed that Tijan Ndure and his co- accused on 31 May 2009, at Brikama Town, did conspire to wit intended to defraud the sum of 15, 000 Euros by presenting a substance purported to be cocaine to Lamin Hydara.

Upon reading this count to the accused, all of them pleaded not guilty.

The statement of count two reads ‘obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 288 of the Criminal Code’.

While the particulars of offence revealed that Tijan Ndure and others did commit an offence, with intent to defraud Lamin Hydara, to take 15,000 Euros by presenting a substance said to be cocaine.

In count three, it is stated that the two accused persons were charged with obstructing security officers while executing their duties, contrary to Section 230 of the Criminal Code. Both the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The particulars of offence reads that “Lamin Karbo, alias Lang Kah and Lamin Simmah on 31 May 2009, at Brikama did commit an offence by assaulting men of the NIA to wit intent to prevent the arrest of drug dealers, while executing their duties”.

All the suspects in this count pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Count four stated that, the accused were found in possession of prohibited drugs, contrary to Section 35(1) of the Drug Control Act.

The particulars of this offence revealed that “Tijan Ndure on 31st May 2009, at Brikama, did commit an offence by being in possession of prohibited drugs, 18 grams of cannabis sativa”.

The accused pleaded not guilty to this charge.

On count five, they were charged with being in possession of drugs, contrary to Section 43-(1) of the Drug Control Act.

The particulars of offence read that Ansumana Fatty on 31st May 2009, did commit an offence with in possession of 20 grams 500mg of cannabis sativa with the intention of trafficking it.

The said accused pleaded not guilty to this charge.

At this juncture, the case was adjourned to 26 August for hearing, and the court ordered for the file of the subordinate court to be dispatched to the Special Criminal Court on the next sitting.

Meanwhile, the bail condition for the seven accused persons at the subordinate court was maintained.