Justice Monageng of the Banjul High Court yesterday delivered her ruling in the Economic Crime trial filed against Pa Sallah Jeng, suspended Mayor of the Banjul City Council (BCC), by the state.

Handing down her judgement, the High Court Judge said both the defence and the prosecution articulated the law governing a submission of a no case to answer. However, she relied heavily on the litigation of the case to arrive at conclusion.

She noted that the second prosecution, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BCC in his testimony told the court that he was the one who gave order to the Finance Director of the BCC to make payment for the publication of the book entitled “In My Time”. She said the CEO confirmed to the court that the book is not a “private publication” since it was paid by the council.

She added that the sixth prosecution witness, Marie Diallia, Councillor at BCC, in her testimony said the publication is not a biography of the Mayor.

Justice Monageng concluded that the state has not on the face of this produced enough evidence to put the accused person on his defence.  She therefore, discharged and acquitted the accused on Count I and II.

However, she ruled that the accused will answer to the remaining counts 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively.
Lawyer Neneh Cham-Chongan, appeared for the accused person.