By Nicholas Bass
The defense counsel of Lamin Mboge, the Chief Executive Officer of Gam Housing Estate Company, on Tuesday, 19th July 2023 granted a case adjournment to allow him to be served with his client’s 107 counts charges.
At begin of the hearing of the criminal suit pressed against the accused, Lamin Mboge, before the Brikama High Court presided over by Justice Sherriff B. Tabally, the defence counsel BorryTouray applied for the prosecution (prosecutor Corporal 4906 Lamin Bangura) to serve him with a copy of his client’s charge sheet, noting that it was unfair for him (Counsel B Touray) to proceed in the case without being served with a copy of his client’s charge sheet.
However, prosecutor Corporal 4906 Lamin Bangura disclosed before the court that the accused, Lamin Mboge was served with a copy of his charges but his counsel Touray argued that the accused’s charge sheet was taken by the Police Officers during his arrest and detention.
Justice Tabally at this juncture, ordered the clerk to serve the defense counsel Touray with the accused’s (Lamin Mboge) charge sheet before the next adjournment date.
Meanwhile, prosecutor Bangura applied for the bail of the accused to be revoked , emphasizing that from 2017-2023 the accused was charged with obtaining money with false pretenses through Gam Housing Estate Company as the CEO of the Company. He added that the accused has been obtaining monies from victims that have toiled for that money through the works of their hands.
Police prosecutor Bangura strongly emphasized that the accused, Lamin Mboge, is riding on citizens (Gambians) daily stating that if his bail is extended it will encourage him (Lamin Mboge) to continue obtaining money through false pretenses.
He exclaimed that the Estate Dealers currently inflicted unbearable pain on citizens in the country and they are more dangerous compared to sexually transmitted infections. He added that the accused habitual absence from the courts has caused many of the prosecutors’ cases to languish in the court.
Prosecutor Bangura tendered a criminal record of Lamin Mboge(accused) at the court and informed the court of his (LaminMboge) imprisonment at Mile Two Central Prison while noting the importance of a plea for the court to take notice of LaminMboge’s criminal record and revoke his bail, initially granted by the Police Officers before his arraignment before the court.
However, Justice Tabally adjourned the matter for ruling on the bail and continuation of the hearing.