Charges Against Mr Edward Graham Withdrawn

FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)

Mamadou Dem

28 April 2011

The three counts Economic Crimes preferred against the former Managing Director of Social Security Housing and Finance Corporation (SSHFC) Mr. Edward Graham was, on Thursday 21st April, withdrawn before Acting Principal Magistrate Alagbe Taiwo Ade of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.

When the case was called, State Counsel Simeon Abi told the court that he is applying to withdraw the charges against the accused person and urged the court to strike out the matter.

Amie Bensouda, Counsel for the accused, did not raise any objection to that application but applied for the accused person and the bail bond to be discharged.

The Magistrate ruled that in pursuant to section 68 subsection 1 of the Criminal Procedure Code the accused person is discharged.

Mr. Graham was charged and arraigned before Principal Magistrate Emmanuel Nkea (now a judge at Basse High Court) on the 31st of December 2010 for allegedly violating the provisions of Sections 5(a), 5(g) and 5 (e) of the Economic Crimes (Specified Offences) Decree l994 and to which he earlier pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Graham’s not guilty plea was immediately followed by an application for bail on his behalf by his counsel, Amie Bensouda. The court did not grant him bail on that day:. However, the court ordered the State to formally furnish it with all the facts in support of their position. The prosecution filed a motion for the Court to remand the defendant in prison custody pending the hearing and determination of the charge against him.

He was again refused bail by the same subordinate court on the 6th of January 2011, presided over by then Magistrate Emmanuel Nkea.

The counsel for the accused applied for bail on behalf of her client at the High Court in Banjul and which was granted in the sum of one hundred million dalasi (D100, 000,000).

The prosecution has never called any witness in this case since its inception.

Mr. Graham was discharged on the 21st April 2011 after the state withdrew the charges against him.

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