In D3.8M Sanyang Village Visaca Case, Defence Objection Dismissed

The Banjul High Court yesterday dismissed the objection raised by the defence counsel Lamin Jobarteh as the trial of Manjang Sanyang and Omieu Ceesay continued.

The duo who were charged with economic crime were alleged to have caused over D3.8M financial loss while being employees at the Sanyang Village Visaca Bank.

Defence counsel Lamin Jobarteh earlier on raised an objection on some of the counts on the ground that certain particulars of the offence stated the same offence and urged the court to strike out those counts.

In delivering his ruling, Justice Wowo stated that the accused persons are charged with economic crime. He said when the case came up on the 6th May 2009, the defence counsel Lamin Jobarteh raised a preliminary objection on certain counts. He said the defence urged the court to strike out those counts.

Justice Wowo added that the state counsel, S.H. Barkun, in his reply submitted that the objection raised by the defence counsel was baseless and cited some decided cases to support his reply.

According to Justice Wowo he had listened to the argument of both parties. He said the accused persons were arraigned before the court on 13th March 2009 and when the charge sheet was read to them they pleaded not guilty. He added that the objection raised by the defence counsel was incompetent and therefore dismissed.

Defence counsel Lamin Jobarteh then applied for an adjournment as he was not prepared to proceed. His application was granted and the case was adjourned until 15th June 2009.