A legal suit filed by the plaintiffs Timber and Furniture Company against Tamsir Jasseh, former Immigration Director-General, is now set for judgment.

Presiding Magistrate Kayoidy of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, on Thursday informed the court that he would deliver judgment on the 21st February 2008. Ousman Tasbasi, the company’s Managing Director, told the court that the plaintiff had let to the defendant Tamsir Jasseh premises situated at No. 62 Gloucester Street in Banjul at an annual rent of US $12,000 per annum. He said the rent agreement was for five years, adding that the defendant only made one year’s payment in 2006 and a receipt had been issued to that effect.

He disclosed that the defendant did not pay rent for 2007 and he continued in occupation despite service of notice on him. He added that the rent owed now stood at $24,000 and that the company is now seeking possession of the property and recovery of the rent arrears.

According to the plaintiff’s claim, by an agreement made in December 2004, the plaintiff let premises situated at 62 Gloucester Street in Banjul at annual rent of US $12,000. It added that the defendant paid two years rent in advance. The said agreement expired at the end of December 2006 but the defendant has continued to occupy the premises despite notice to quit issued to the defendant by the plaintiff and he has refused to pay the rent despite demand by the plaintiff for him to do so, the claim stated. The defendant is therefore illegally in occupation of the premises which is causing loss and damage to the plaintiff.

The plaintiff’s claim is for the possession of the premises situated at 62 Gloucester Street in Banjul the sum of D316, 000 being arrears of rent from January to December 2007. The case is set for judgment on 21st February 2008.