Drug Case Till End June

NEWS BANJUL THE GAMBIA(MB)- Twelve people of foreign origin – Venezuelan, Dutch, and Nigerian – have been charged before the Banjul Magistrate Court for drugs drug possession and trafficking offences. The accused persons have denied the charge.

All the 12 accused persons stepped into the dock as they were called one after the other, and informed the court that they were yet to secure legal representation. The court clerk was then instructed to read the three counts charges followed by an interpretation of the charges in the Spanish to four of the accused persons (sixth, seventh, eighth and eleventh) who claimed to have not understood the English version.



All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them. The presiding magistrate, Hilary Abeke of the Banjul Magistrates Court, then made an order for the 12 suspected drug dealers to be remanded in custody pending the outcome of the trial. His decision came after the three counts criminal offence charges of conspiracy to commit an offence, dealing in prohibited drugs for the purpose of supply by retail or wholesale and possession of prohibited drugs were read to them in both the English and Spanish.

The magistrate, explaining the decision of the court, said by virtue of the offences charged and with due regard to the various sections cited on the Drug Control Act of The Gambia, all the 12 accused persons are therefore urged to seek bail application to the High Court of The Gambia and pending the outcome of their bail application from the High Court, they should remain in remand.
Chief Inspector Abdoulie Ceesay, who announced his representation for the state, applied for an adjournment of the case to the 30th of June 2010.


Count one: Statement of offence; Conspiracy to commit an offence contrary to Section 53 (1) (a) of the Drug Control Act 2003. Particulars of offence; That you Memunatu Sesay, Fernando Verla, Barset Godwin, Ephraim Michael Chiduben, Juan Carlos Sanchez, Eric Bottini, Juan Carlos Diaz, Louis Dose Fermin, George Sanchez, Rudy Rosoelhamid Ghazi, Esteaban Zavala and Dennis Wilgo Winter on or about the 12th day of May 2010 at Brufut and other places within the jurisdiction of the Republic of The Gambia, you did conspire to wit: had in your possession three parcels of cocaine of prohibited drug weighing 3Kg, 360G and thereby committed an offence.

Count two: Statement of offence; Dealing in prohibited drug for the purpose of supply by retail or wholesale, transport and/or transfer contrary to Section 33 (1) of the Drug Control Act 2003. Particulars of offence: That you Memunatu Sesay, Fernando Verla, Barset Godwin, Ephraim Michael Chiduben, Juan Carlos Sanchez, Eric Bottini, Juan Carlos Diaz, Louis dose Fermin, George Sanchez, Rudy Rosoelhamid Ghazi, Esteaban Zavala and Dennis Wilgo Winter on or about the 12th day May 2010 at Brufut and other places within the jurisdiction of the Republic of The Gambia, you had in your possession three parcels of Cocaine a prohibited weighing 3KG 360G for the purpose of supply by retail or wholesale, transport or and/or transfer as an occupation or business and thereby committed an offence.

Count three: Statement of Offence; Possession of prohibited drug for the purpose of drug trafficking contrary to Section 43 (4) (b) of the Drug Control Act 2003. Particulars of offence: That you Memunatu Sesay, Fernando Verla, Barset Godwin, Ephraim Michael Chiduben, Juan Carlos Sanchez, Eric Bottini, Juan Carlos Diaz, Louis dose Fermin, George Sanchez, Rudy Rosoehamid Ghazi, Esteaban Zavala and Dennis Wilgo Winter on or about the 12th day May 2010 at Brufut and other places within the jurisdiction of the Republic of The Gambia, had in your possession three parcels of Cocaine a prohibited drug weighing 3KG 360G for the purpose trafficking and thereby committed an offence.