Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The state law office has filed five criminal charges against Chief Magistrate Pa Modou Njie of the Bundung Magistrate’s Court, accusing him of serious misconduct in his capacity as a public official. The charges, which include dealing in prohibited drugs, abuse of office, removal of property under lawful seizure, fraud, and stealing by persons in public service, have raised significant concerns regarding the integrity of the Gambian judiciary.

The first charge, abuse of office, alleges that between August 2023 and November 2024, Pa Modou Njie abused his position as Chief Magistrate to engage in illegal drug dealings. According to the prosecution, Njie, while presiding over narcotics cases at the Bundung Magistrate’s Court, used his authority to involve himself in the illicit trade.

In the second charge, Njie is accused of ordering the removal of 104 blocks of cocaine under lawful seizure from the court’s exhibit store to his office. The prosecution claims that he disposed of 31 blocks of cocaine weighing 51.9 kg and another 25.2 kg of rubbles, attempting to hinder or defeat the lawful attachment of these drugs.

The third charge, fraud and breaches of trust, accuses Njie of exploiting his role in the public service to further his involvement in drug dealings. The prosecution argues that, through his official duties, Njie violated the public’s trust by participating in these illegal activities.

Njie is also charged with stealing 31 blocks of cocaine, valued at D46,500,000, from the State’s property. This charge is linked to his involvement in removing and disposing of the cocaine under his watch. The final charge, dealing with prohibited drugs, accuses the magistrate of selling or supplying cocaine while serving as Chief Magistrate overseeing narcotic cases.

During the court proceedings, Pa Modou Njie denied all charges. Prosecutor Commissioner A. Sanneh urged the court to deny bail, citing ongoing investigations and concerns over the whereabouts of the accused’s driver, who is a potential witness and is currently on the run. Sanneh argued that granting bail would allow Njie to flee the jurisdiction and potentially interfere with the investigation. He also requested that Njie’s official vehicle and mobile phone be withheld as they are part of the investigation.

In response, Njie’s defense lawyer, Lamin S. Camara, argued that the prosecution’s case was weak, emphasizing that the police had completed their investigation before bringing formal charges. He also criticized the prolonged detention of the accused, claiming that it violated his constitutional rights and requested bail for his client.

Magistrate I. Dibba, after hearing both sides, ruled to grant Njie bail. The conditions include a bail sum of D3,000,000, with two sureties each providing a bond of D1,500,000 or land valued at the same amount. Additionally, the sureties were required to submit their national identification cards. Njie’s travel documents were to be deposited with the court’s registrar, and the court ordered that he report to the police daily if granted bail.

The case is ongoing, and further developments are expected as investigations continue.