Tamsir Jasseh, who is currently serving a 20-year jail term at the State Central Prison after he was found guilty of treason, was yesterday ordered to pay an outstanding arrears of US$12,000 (about D316,000) owed to the Timber and Furniture Company.

Senior Magistrate Kayode Olajubutu of the Banjul Magistrates Court handed down this order in a judgment, which was preceded by a civil suit filed against the former director general of the Gambia Immigration Department for the recovery of the one-year rent areas, from January to December 2007.

Magistrate Kayode said that despite the available evidence that the defendant was issued a notice of the suit by virtue of which he appeared before the court on January 14 this year, "I found out that it appears there is nothing before this court to justify his absence".

He then ordered the defendant to vacate the plaintiff's premises situated at 72 Gloucester Street in Banjul.

He further ordered Mr Jasseh to pay D800 as expenses incurred in filing the suit.