The economic crime trial of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) traffic cashier, Jahou Jammeh commenced Wednesday at the Special Criminal Court (SCC) in Banjul, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Nkea, after the prosecution led by State Counsel Simon Semalemba filed an amended information on the particulars of offences.

The amended information disclosed that the accused, Jahou Jammeh is charged with economic crime contrary to Section 5 (a) of the Economic Crime and Specified Offences Act, Cap 13 Volume 111, Laws of The Gambia, 2009.

The particulars of offence stated that the accused, Jahou Jammeh between the months of January and August 2011, whilst in the employment of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) willfully caused the loss of D6, 773, 607.64 (Six Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy-three Thousand, Six Hundred and Seven Dalasis, Sixty-four bututs, being the property of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA).

In his evidence, the first prosecution witness, Abdoulie Koma, an audit officer at the GPA told the court that he was assigned to check cashbook and later found out that there were so many irregularities, discrepancies and cash suppression in the traffic cash of the GPA. The witness adduced that following his audit exercise and detection of the discrepancies in the traffic cash office, he was assigned by senior Audit manager, Mrs. Anta Kah- Jallow to also make an audit checking for the delivery orders and shipping routes.

The first prosecution witness further told the court that the said exercise started between January and June 2011, adding that during the exercise he also discovered an outstanding balance of D141, 665.00 by the traffic cashier, Jahou Jammeh (the accused). The witness disclosed that after the financial discrepancies were discovered, the senior Audit manager, Gibou Joof and Anta Kah-Jallow reported to the managing director of GPA who set up a committee to investigate the said irregularities, but later in the month of August 2011, the shipping notes and delivery orders revealed that the total amount was about D6, 773, 607.64.

Hearing continues on the 6th March 2012.