By: Nicholas Bass
The first prosecution witness in the case involving three judiciary officials, Commissioner Abdoulie Ceesay on Tuesday disclosed that the Ex-Director of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG) Bakary Gassama authorized him to write a letter to the Chief Justice for approval to secure the release of the 52 blocks of cocaine from the custody of Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.
Commission Ceesay made these revelations before Justice Sarah Aryee of Banjul High Court in the case involving three judiciary officials, accused of being involved in the disappearance of 52 blocks of cocaine.
According to Ceesay, the ex-director of DLEAG, Gassama authorized him to write a letter to the Chief Justice, requesting approval for the release of 52 blocks of cocaine, adding that such a request can either be refused or granted.
Defense lawyer Lamin K. Mboge argued that such requests have never happened, adding that such requests were not by the Laws of The Gambia.
Lawyer Mboge stated that DLEAG erred in law when they placed a convicted drug trafficker, Salla without a court warrant, stating that such practice was not within the boundaries of the laws of the land.
However, Ceesay told the court that the convict Salla together with his lawyer, P.K. Mendy did not lodge any complaint to DLEAG, adding that there was a pending 75% fine payment.
Ceesay further stated that there was nothing wrong with DLEAG to place a convict in custody after paying a 25% fine while explaining that neither the accused nor his lawyer ”protested”.
When quizzed by the defence lawyer to ascertain if the accused persons were present at the time of preliminary testing of the 52 blocks of cocaine at Kanifing Magistrates’ Court following its release from court to DLEAG Ceesay affirmed that the principal registrar, Ridwan Othman was present.
Ceesay denied knowing if the accused persons were all present at the time the 52 cocaine blocks were finally tested by DLEAG scientific officials, stating that he is not an analytic officer.
At that juncture, the defence applied to the court for the statements of Ceesay taken on 30 May and 7 June 2024 to be admitted and marked as an exhibit, and the same was granted without the prosecution’s objection.
However, the state lawyer Joseph Okete challenged the defence application when they asked the state to produce the analytical report and the weighment certificate of the 52 blocks of cocaine.
The presiding Judge sustained the application of the defence and ordered the state to produce the said documents, stating the Director of Public Prosecution, AM Yusuf was ordered by the court to produce the same.
Meanwhile, the former principal registrar of Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, Ridwan Othman, and magistrate Ebrima Janko Colley stand accused of conspiracy to commit a felony, theft, dealing in prohibited drugs, fraud, and breach of trust whilst the court clerk, Maraiama Jankeh Tamba is try on neglect of official duty.
