Gambia: Two-Chinese Face Economic Crime Charge

The director of public prosecution (DPP)-SH Barkum, on Wednesday slammed two China nationals namely; Xiong Jun and He Lisheng, on a single-count charge of economic crime at the Banjul Magistrate Court presided over by Magistrate Dawda Jallow.
However, the charged could not be read to the accused persons during yesterday's sitting, as the DPP stated that it was his intention to arraign the accused, but he has agreed with the counsel for the accused to apply for an adjournment till today.
DPP explained that the case file was not with him as the documents they (prosecution) intend to tender to prosecute the duo are not with him. He further applied for the accused to be kept in custody pending their appearance in court today. Lawyer K Sanyang did not object to the application of the DPP, but thus appealed for the accused to be kept in police custody instead. In ruling, the presiding deferred the case to today at 2.30pm .
According to the particulars of the offence, the duo in the December, 2014 at Kairaba Avenue in the Kanifing Municipality of the Republic of The Gambia, within the jurisdiction of the court, did commit an offence to wit; caused economic loss to The Gambia Telecommunication Company Ltd (GAMTEL), in the sum of fifty thousand dalasis (50,000), by installing a giant sim box with the view of diverting international calls from Gamtel International Gateway, which act is detrimental to the economy of The Gambia, and thereby committed an offence.
Hearing continues on the 22nd January 2015 at 2 30pm.