Former Permanent Secretary No.2 at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Willy Joof, is expected back in the Banjul Magistrates’ Court later this month as his trial over varying degrees of allegations could not continue on Monday.

Mr Joof, who also served as Gambia’s ambassador to France, is being tried for eight-count alleged offences, ranging from official corruption to stealing.

But his trial, which was supposed to proceed before magistrate Kayeodi, could not due to the absence of the state prosecutor from court. The matter will now be heard on 23 January 2008.