Gambia: Fresh Charges Against Ex-Immigration DG

The state prosecution led by Katusube Tom yesterday filed additional charges to the previous charge against Buba Sagnia, the former Director General of Immigration Department at the Banjul Magistrates' Court presided over by Principal Magistrate Hilary Abeke. When the matter was called for hearing, the State Counsel, K. Tom, asked the court to permit him for further instruction. "My instructions are to proceed with the matter and the consent of the Attorney General dated 17th December, 2013 in respect of the charge of Abuse of Office filed on the 17th December 2013 on record," he said.

He further stated that he has been instructed to amend the charge and add one more count dated 19th December, 2013 and filed 19th December, 2013, he relied in line with section 169 of the Criminal Procedure Code. K. Tom further sought the court's indulgence to permit his application, which was granted by the presiding magistrate. The accused person is now charged with two counts of Criminal Offence ranging from Abuse of Office and Neglect of Office contrary to the Laws of The Gambia. The particulars of offence on count one revealed that the accused person sometime in the month of October 2013 at Immigration Headquarters, Banjul in the Republic of the Gambia within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court whilst being employed as the director general of the Immigration Department acted in excess of the power of his office, and issued entry clearance to Ali Chacin, a Syrian National; and Hussein Abs, a Lebanese National without forwarding the same to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Office for further security screening thereby committed an offence.

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