I hope the "out of court settlement" is  preceded by the State dropping
all charges and apologizing to these decent Gambians for wrongful
detention and defamation of character. I am no lawyer but using the
National Drug Enforcement Agency against Abdou Draman and his company
was totally uncalled for.  Declaring them fugitive on national media
just because of differences on a business contract  sends a terrible
message to all  who desire to setup shop in the Gambia.

I visited Pristine's headquarters in Fajara in 2010 and have seen some
20 + young Gambians IT programmers, developers,  web designers, database
developer, accountants, and admin staff. I also heard from Abdou himself
about his dreams for the next step,  beyond ID card issuing.

It is sad to note that the State using NDEA, GRTS and the Courts to
declare Draman and brother fugitive, incarcerate them for many weeks
without bail just to  call for "out of court settlement" seem unaware of
the real consequences of its actions.

Malanding


  In Pristine Consulting trial, state opts for out of court settlement

africa <http://thepoint.gm/africa/news> » gambia
<http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/news>
Friday, June 03, 2011

The criminal trial involving Pristine Consulting Company and it senior
officials has taken a new twist following an announcement at the Special
Criminal Court yesterday that the state wants to settle the matter out
of court.

Deputy Director of Special Litigation Simeon Abi yesterday told the
court presided over by Justice Joseph Enwa Ikpala that "the state wants
to settle the matter out of court" and, as a result, applied for an
adjournment.


Pristine Company was contracted by the Gambia Government for the
production of biometric identity cards. The company, its Chief Executive
Officer, Abdourahman Touray, and its Chief Technology Officer, Assan
Touray, were charged with economic crimes, conspiracy and theft.

Defence counsel, Ida Drammeh did not raise any objection to the state's
application for an adjournment.

Justice Ikpala in adjourning the case stated that based on the consent
of both parties for the case to be settled out of court, he would
adjourn the case till 16th June 2011.

According to the charge sheet on count one, the accused persons, between
20 April 2009 and 10 March 2011, being the persons engaged in the
processing of the Biometric ID card and producing other official
documents sold and intentionally withheld the sum of twenty-seven
million, six hundred and one thousand and ninety dalasi and thereby
caused loss to the government.

Count two read that the accused persons, Pristine Consulting, Assan
Touray and Abdourahman Touray, being the persons engaged by the Gambia
government to produce and supply finger scanning machine and
accessories, intentionally failed to produce and supply as required and
thereby did an act detrimental to the economy of The Gambia.

Count three stated that between 20 April 2009 and March 2011, the
accused persons conspired to defraud the public by printing and selling
Gambian biometric ID Cards, driving licence, and residential permit, all
of which contain a biometric chip.

Count four stated that the accused persons, Pristine Consulting, Assan
Touray and Abdourahman Touray, on 20 April 2009 received on behalf of
the Government of The Gambia twenty-seven million, six hundred and one
thousand and ninety dalasi.

Author: *Malamin Conteh*


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