The trial of the two former Permanent Secretaries at the Department of State for Agriculture, Dr. Badara Loum and Suruwa Jaiteh, continued yesterday before Justice Yemoah of the Banjul High Court.

The state counsel prosecuting the case informed the court that the charge against the accused persons is alleged mal-administration that has led to loss of monies to government. He adduced that some of the lost monies have been recovered but appealed for more time to enable them establish the recovered amount.

The defence counsels for their part did not object to the state counsel’s request for more time to enable them find out how much has been recovered so far.

It could be recalled that the two former top civil servants were charged with willfully or by omission or recklessly causing monetary loss to a public body contrary to section 5 (a) of the Economic Crimes decree 1994, Decree No. 16 and punishable under section 6 of the same.

The particulars of the offence stated that “Dr. Badara Loum and Suruwa Jaiteh as Permanent Secretaries of the Department of State for Agriculture, between the months of April 2005 and December 2006, being the accounting officers thereof and entrusted with the responsibility of distributing and selling of 47, 775 metric tons of NPK fertiliser and 2, 229 metric tons of Urea fertilizer valued at D51, 480, 100 willfully or by omission or recklessly handled same and thereby caused loss to the government of The Gambia to the tune of D6, 340, 845.”
The case was at that point adjourned to 5th December 2007.