By Nicholas Bass
Alleged notorious drug trafficker and money launderer Paulo Djabi on Wednesday appeared at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court where he was slammed with 15-count charges, bordering on drug possession, conspiracy, money laundering and dealing in prohibited drugs.
The Bissau Guinean was arraigned alongside Nadine Preira,Mamadu Neto Djabi and Secuna Jabi but when the charge sheet was read and interpreted to them in the language they understood, the quartet pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
Paulo Djabi has pleaded not guilty to the 15 counts ranging from conspiracy to possession of prohibited drugs and money laundering.
Meanwhile, female suspect Nandine Pereira has denied the charges of conspiracy, possession of prohibited drugs, money laundering, and dealing in prohibited drugs.
Mamadu Djabi and Secuna Djabi have all pleaded not guilty to a single charge of conspiracy pressed against them.
At this juncture, Commissioner Abdoulie Ceesay of DLEAG, leading the prosecution, applied for the transfer of the case to the High Court. He stated that the lower court did not have the jurisdiction to hear money laundering cases as dictated by the Anti-money Laundering Act. Prosecutor Ceesay also applied for the accused to be remanded, pending the outcome of the investigations being carried out by the DLEAG.
However, lead defense counsel Lamin S. Camara vehemently objected to Ceesay’s application, stating that he (Ceesay) erred in his interpretation of the word ‘’court’’ in the Anti-Laundering Act.
Counsel Camara argued that there is nowhere in the Anti-money Laundering Act that stripped the lower court of its authority to hear such matters, except in cases of treason and economic crimes.
He asked the court to overrule the prosecution’s application, saying his clients have a right to bail.
The matter was adjourned to today for a ruling on the bail application and the jurisdictional issue.
Paulo Djabi, Nadine Pereira ,Mamadu Neto Djabi and SecunaJabi sometime on 27 August 2023, allegedly conspired among themselves to deal in one gram 670mg (gross weight) and 1 gram 220 g (netweight) of MDMA, a prohibited drug.
Paulo and Nandine stand accused of obtaining a huge amount of Gambian Dalasi ,US dollar and euro through money laundering.