A staggering amount of D5, 308,919 has been allegedly stolen at the Basse sub-treasury in Upper River Region (URR) between January 2001 and March 2006.

The suspect, Sukuta Makalo, was on Wednesday arraigned before Justice MM Yamoa of the Banjul High Court, charged with the offence of stealing by servant or clerk and corrupt and dishonest abuse of office for private benefit.

The particulars of the offence in count one read that the accused, Sukuta Makalo, being the Accounting Secretary at Basse sub-treasury between January 2001 and March 2006, stole the sum of D5, 308, 919 being money belonging to the government of The Gambia.

In count two the particulars of offence revealed that the accused, Sukuta Makalo, being the Accounting Secretary at Basse sub-treasury between January 2001 and March 2006, corruptly and dishonestly abused office for private benefit by stealing D5, 308, 919, being money belonging to the Gambia government.

The accused vehemently denied the allegation preferred against him. He was granted bail in the sum of D6M with sureties who had to meet the bail condition. The bail bond further stipulated that the accused should also be reporting to the Serre Kunda police station three times a week. He was also ordered to surrender his passport to the Registrar of the court.

The case was then adjourned to 15th January 2008.