By: Nicholas Bass
The Commissioner for Drugs Demand Reduction at DLEAG, Abdoulie Ceesay, on Tuesday explained to the Banjul High Court the genesis of the allegations against three judiciary officials over missing 52 cocaine blocks.
Principal registrar at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court Ridwan Othman, magistrate Ebrima Janko Colley and court clerk Mariama Jankeh Tamba were suspected of involvement in the missing 52 blocks of cocaine.
It could be recalled that Principal registrar Ridwan Othman and magistrate Ebrima Janko Colley were on 10 October 2023,were charged with conspiracy to commit a felony-to wit- theft, dealing in prohibited drugs, fraud and breach of trust while court clerk Mariama Jankeh attached to magistrate Colley stands trial for neglect of official duty.
Testifying in court chaired by Justice Sarah Aryee, Commissioner Ceesay adduced that he knew the accused persons at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, adding that he was the lead prosecutor in the trial of one Bocar Hamet Salla over dealing and trafficking in prohibited drugs before magistrate Colley at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court. The witness told the court that after Bocar Hamet Salla pleaded guilty to the charges of aggravated drug trafficking and dealing in 52 blocks of cocaine, he was sentenced by magistrate Colley to pay a fine of about D4M on count one in default to serve a 12-year mandatory sentence. Commissioner Ceesay further adduced that Bocar was fined D250,000 on count two in default to serve a three-year mandatory jail term.
According to Ceesay, Bocar Hamet Salla paid the fines in within a short period of time from his conviction, adding that Bocar’s lawyer P.K Mendy had informed him of the full payment his client made as ordered by the court.
The witness disclosed that after the conviction of Bocar, DLEAG requested the 52 blocks of cocaine from the court, stating that it was risky for the blocks to be stored at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court. He explained that it was safer for the 52 blocks of cocaine to be stored at DLEAG for destruction. Commissioner Ceesay further testified that when the 52 blocks of cocaine were scientifically tested by DLEAG, some of the drugs tested positive while others tested negative.
During the cross-examination, lead defense lawyer Lamin K. Mboge questioned the safety and legality of the 52 blocks of cocaine to be returned to DLEAG, arguing that there was widespread news on social media that indicated that DLEAG burnt fake drugs during last year’s drugs destruction exercise.
However, this did not go down well with Commissioner Ceesay and he preferred not to entertain the question. The witness told the court that he was part of the panel that conducted the investigation into the alleged fake drugs that were allegedly destroyed, adding that the investigation panel submitted their report to the attorney-general for legal advice.
When lawyer Mboge quizzed Commissioner Ceesay about the legality of DLEAG’s request for the 52 blocks of cocaine, he responded that when they requested the 52 blocks,the court referred them to the chief justice, who granted their requests.
