Willy Joof pleads not guilty

A former permanent secretary at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs, has denied the eight charges of official corruption, theft and abuse of office filed against him by the State. William John Joof, made this plea, yesterday, at the Banjul Magistrates Court, presided over by Magistrate Kayode Olajubutu.

Mr Joof who denied the charges for the third time, was earlier on discharged due to the prosecution’s persistent absence from the court. The State then slammed fresh charges on him, to which the defence counsel, Lamin Camara, objected, saying that they were incorrect.

When the case resumed yesterday, Lawyer Camara applied for a pre-trial for the prosecution to furnish the defence copies of the exhibits including the voluntary and cautionary statements of the accused and the summary of the witnesses statements in advance. Camara said this will enable him to effectively and adequately defend his client, adding that the charges before the court are “very serious”.

Emmanuel Fagbenle, director of Public Prosecution, argued that the defence never asked for any copy of statements from the prosecution, adding that apart from the cautionary statement of the accused, he does not know whether such exhibits exist. He said it is just an assumption given to the court or the defence. He noted that the defence may ask for copies of the exhibits in advance in the course of the trial to enable him to cross-examine the witnesses involved.

In his ruling, Magistrate Kayode, said the defence application is neither in line with the Criminal Code nor the rules of the court. He added that there is no rule in the court that says so and ruled that the court cannot grant the “prayer” made by the defence because it is not provided for by the rules of the court nor is it in the Criminal Code.

The proceedings of the case continues today with the first witness expected to testify.