The protracted 6-year trial between the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Momodou Jarju, ex-chairman of the MRC Worker’s Union and Alieu Faal, ex-chief  shop steward of the MRC Worker’s Union, last Friday resumed at the Civil Division of the High court in Banjul. The case is presided over by Justice Yeboah.

The duo, ex-MRC Workers unionists are claiming wrongful termination of their services by the MRC administration in 2003. Alieu Faal, the last defense witness at the trial, told the court that he has a diploma in Biomedical Science from the University of West Ministers in the UK.

He added that after his services were terminated by the MRC administration he gained admission into the Keele University in the UK, but the British High Commission denied him an entry visa into the UK, despite the fact that the said University had awarded him a scholarship called the Charter Scholarship.  

According to him, the scholarship was valued at 2750 pounds and one of his sisters in Sweden also provided him with 2095.42 pounds.

“The consular at the British High Commission told me ‘your supposed sponsors cannot sponsor you. In addition you don’t even know the content of your course of study. I got information from the director of MRC that you were sacked at the MRC for gross misconduct and that they the MRC heard you are planning to leave the country,’” Mr Alieu Faal told the court.

“When I appeared for the second time,the consular asked me: ‘Where you not the one who came here the last time?’ He asked me a few questions, mostly regarding my course content and rejected my visa application again,” he explained.

Alieu Faal identified the documents issued by the British High Commission denying him a visa and the scholarship letter sent to him by the Keele University in the UK. The documents were tendered and marked as exhibits. The case continues on 7th November.