The trial involving one Ebrima Jeng and Mbaye Jeng, charged with receiving stolen properties unlawfully obtained at the Royal Victorial Teaching Hospital store, yesterday resumed at the Banjul Magistrates Court presided over by Principal Magistrate Edrissa Mbai.

When the case was called, Cadet Inspector Keita informed the court that the prosecution would like to make an application to substitute the previous charges with a fresh one. The defence did not object to this.

According to the new charge, the duo, on March 23rd 2009, at Tobacco Road and 14 New Street in Banjul, received  from one Sarjo Dampha  9 cartons of pharmaceutical drugs valued at D27,000; 37 boxes of surgical sutures valued at D22,000; IV cannular valued at D10,000; Lidocaine valued at D2,000; and 16 boxes of depo provera contraceptives valued at D5,000.

The total sum of the stolen items amounted to D66,000. The two pleaded not guilty. At one point in the hearing, the defence counsel, Sidney Riley, told the court that he was not satisfied with the interpreter and therefore wanted a better Wollof interpreter. The duo had earlier on been granted court bail in the sum of one million dalasis each with Gambian sureties, who must produce titled deeds of properties of such  amount within the Greater Banjul Area. The case was adjourned to Wednesday 22 March 2009 for hearings.