Banjul — The economic crime case involving the state against one Sukuta Makalo, an accounting officer at the Basse-sub treasury in the Upper River Region, on Wednesday, October 28, 2009, resumed before Justice Joseph Wowo of the high court in Banjul.

The accused is standing trial on two charges of stealing by a clerk or servant and corruptly or dishonestly abusing his office for private benefit. The accused was alleged to have stolen the sum of five million, three hundred and eight thousand, nine hundred and nineteen dalasis between January 2001 and March 2006, whilst he was the accounting officer at the sub treasury of the Office of the Commissioner of Upper River Region, Basse.

When the matter came up, the principal state counsel, W. Shanaka, informed the court that the state witness, Karamba Touray of the National Audit Office, was yet to arrive at the court to continue his testimony. The presiding judge, Justice Wowo disclosed that the matter was a very old case and involved a collosal sum of money. He stood the matter down and asked W. Shanaka to telephone his witness and inform him that the court was waiting for him.

After a while, the said Karama Touray arrived and informed the court that he was having a meeting with some IMF officials and was going back to complete the meeting. Shanaka then craved the indulgence of the court and applied that the matter be adjourned. The case continues on November 4, 2009.