Omar Tunkara, a police detective attached to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), yesterday, has told the court that the ex-nominated member of the National Assembly had denied receiving D400,000 from Abdourahman Bah, her co-accused, but instead claimed to have received only D200,000.

The police detective made this revelation while giving his evidence-in-chief in the ongoing conspiracy and theft trial at the Banjul Magistrates Court, presided over by Magistrate Lamin George. The duo were accused of having conspired and stolen D500,000 intended for James Junkung Jammeh Nursery School in Abuko, of which Mr Bah is the coordinator.

Continuing his testimony, Detective Tunkara recalled that he was in his office on August 7, when he received a “call” from his officer commanding, informing him to obtain cautionary statements from the duo. Tunkara said he obtained the statements at separate times in the presence of an independent witness identified as Babucarr Khan. He was quick to add that the second accused, Abdourahman Bah, wrote his own cautionary statement, but he had himself recorded that of Oley Sey.  

Further testifying, the police detective said Oley Sey confessed to have received only D200,000 and not D400,000 for safekeeping, contrary to Mr Bah’s claim that he retained just D100,000 out of which he had spent D20,000.

The police detective added that the balance of D80,000 was recovered from the second accused during the course of their investigations and D20,000 was later brought in by a relative of the second accused in order to complete the D100,000.
 
“Interrogation of the first accused person, Oley Sey, led to the recovery of D200,000 and D100,000 was also recovered from the second accused, Abdourahman Bah,” the police detective told the court.

Inspector Keita, the prosecution officer, applied for the D200,000 and D100,000 to be tendered and marked as exhibits. His application was granted after the defense counsel for both accused persons, Lamin Camara, raised no objection.

The prosecution further applied for an adjournment to enable him to call in the last witness to the case. The proceedings of the trial are expected to continue today.

H-Lite Electrical appeared at the Kanifing Magistrates Court, on Wednesday, seeking the recovery of the sum of D89,518 from the Baobab Holiday Resort.

Testifying before the principal magistrate, Buba Jawo, Hanram Deswani, a salesman at Hi-Lite Electricals, informed the court that in November 2007, Abdoulie Kandeh, a representative of the Baobab Holiday Resort, collected electrical and building materials worth D100,018.  

Mr Deswani recalled that sometimes later, Abdoulie Kandeh decided to return some items which included an air conditioner and a water pumping machine, bringing the initial amount of D100,018 to D89,518.  

He told the court that Abdoulie Kandeh has since then failed to pay for the goods he had purchased, which according to him prompted Hi-Lite Electricals to file a suit against the resort, with Mr Kandeh appearing as the second defendant in the case. However, the defendants have denied liability.  The case was then adjourned to September 24 for the cross-examination of the witness.

The commissioner of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) of the Gambia Police Force, Biran Mbaye, yesterday, testified before Kumba Sillah-Camara of the Bundung Magistrates Court in a civil case involving one Momodou Njie as plaintiff and Ebou Jobe as defendant.

In his testimony, Commissioner Mbaye told the court that the plaintiff,  Momodou Njie, had told him that he had two Mercedes Benz cars that the defendant Ebou Jobe was interested in.

Commissioner Mbaye told the court that Momodou Njie told him that the defendant, Ebou Jobe, had no money but instead wanted to take the two cars in exchange for a piece of land he had in Bijilo.

Mbaye further revealed that Momodou Njie had also told him that he had made a deal with Ebou Jobe wherein Ebou Jobe would give him D50,000 and the said plot of land in place of the two cars. He then added that he advised him (Momodou Njie) that the offer was too small.

In addition, he said he told him to request an additional sum of D30,000. Mbaye informed the court that although all the transactions had been done, the land was never transferred to the name of  the plaintiff.
At that juncture the case was adjourned to September 9, 2008.

The criminal charge of theft against Ansumana Marena, fondly called Julakay, was dropped yesterday at the Kanifing Magistrates Court, presided over by Senior Magistrate Abdoulie Mbake.

The court’s decision follows an application for withdrawal by the prosecution under Section 68(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, Laws of The Gambia.

According to Prosecutor Sanyang, the withdrawal was intended to enable them to put their house in order, as they are not satisfied with the charges against the accused. According to him, they intend to impose a fresh charge against the accused.

Presiding Magistrate Mbake told prosecution that they should have put their house in order before mentioning the matter in court, before granting the application.

According to the prosecution, Mr Marena, between 2003 and 2008 at Julakay Construction and Engineering at the Kanifing Industrial Estate, stole the following materials: 88 pairs of toilet tanks, 50 pairs of toilet seats, 80 pairs of wash hand basins, 74 pairs of wash hand basins, 57 pairs of sheet covers, 14 rolls of conduits, 9 cartons of fluorescent 4F, 50 pieces of wash hand basins, 50 complete sets of toilet seats, 51 pieces of other fittings. The total value of the items was pegged at D4 million.

The criminal trial involving Muhammad Bah, a teacher at Kombo Kerewan Upper Basic School, Kombo North, who is standing trial on a charge of impregnating his 16-year old student is set for judgement on September 9.

The trail is taking place at the Banjul Magistrates Court, presided over by Principal Magistrate EF M’Bai.

The first witness to testify in the case was the victim (name withheld), who confessed that she was not forced by the accused to submit to him.

The second witness was the young girl’s aunty, who is her guardian.
During the accused person’s own testimony, he admitted impregnating the young girl.
 
He also added that he had never forced himself on the young girl. He further maintained that he had intercourse with the young girl last February, when the girl had already turned sixteen (legal age of consent).

According to sources, the young girl has given birth to a baby boy. Sources further said that the relationship between the young girl and the accused continues to be cordial.

Inacoio Catanosa, a Guinean, was paraded at the Brikama Magistrates Court, charged with spying, which violates Section 37 of the criminal laws of The Gambia.

The prosecution stated that the accused allegedly committed the offence between June and July this year at Kanilai village, Foni Kansala District, where he was nabbed in the act of spying. But the accused has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

At that juncture, Police Prosecutor ASP Touray applied for an adjournment of the case, saying that the charge sheet would be sent to the AG’s Chambers for legal advice.

The magistrate also denied the accused person court bail and ordered for his remand at the State Central Prison, at Mile II until September 11, when the case will resume.

Anthony Michael Dobson, a Norwegian tourist who is standing trial on charges of defiling a minor and child pornography, which contravene Section 127(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 10 Volume III of the amended Children Act 2005 and Section 8 (1)(a) of the Tourism Act 2003, has pleaded not guilty.

The embattled Norwegian appeared before Magistrate Ayoub John Njie of the Brikama Magistrates Court. According to the prosecution, Anthony Michael Dobson unlawfully and carnally defiled a young girl (name withheld) who was less than 18 years at Yarambamaba Estate, along Coastal Road, Old Yundum. Mr Dobson was also charged for taking indecent photographs of a child (name withheld) between the months of July and August, this year, at the same place.

His Gambian accomplice, Mustapha Drammeh, is also facing trial for procuring a child (name withheld) for Mr Anthony, which is contrary to Section 30(1)(a) of the Children’s Act. Mr Drammeh has also pleaded not guilty.

When the case was mentioned, the presiding magistrate informed the court about the request of the defence counsel, Borry Touray, for an adjournment of the trial, which he later granted. However, the police prosecutor, ASP Touray made an application for the court to refuse the two accused persons bail, saying that the case is still under investigation.

His application was granted by the presiding magistrate, who subsequently adjourned the matter to September 11.

Principal Magistrate Buba Jawo of the Kanifing Magistrates Court, has granted Ahmed Adeyamoh, the proprietor and managing editor of Today newspaper bail in the sum of D200,000, with one Gambian surety.

Mr Adeyamoh was arrested by  state security agents and charged for seditious intention, contrary to Section 52(1)C of the Criminal Procedure Code, Cap 10 Volume lll, Laws of The Gambia.

When the case resumed in a crowded courtroom, the charge sheet was read to the accused in English and he pleaded not guilty.

At that juncture, the defence counsel, Lamin Camara, made an application for his client to be granted bail, backing it with various sections of the Criminal Procedure Code.“I am urging the court to grant the accused person bail,” said Defence Counsel Camara. His application was then granted.

According to the prosecution, on or about 15th July 2008, in Kanifing Municipality, the accused person printed, published, sold, and offered for sale and distribution a seditious publication entitled ‘Children dodge school to pick scrap metals’.

The trial has been adjourned to September 10,  when the hearing will proceed in full force. Sergeant 870 Touray represented the IGP in the trial.

One Alagie Cham of Sukuta was, on Tuesday, arraigned before the Bundung Magistrates Court presided over by Senior Magistrate Kumba Sillah-Camara. He was accused of engaging in fraudulent activities.

Lamin Fatty, the plaintiff, told the court that Alagie Cham sold him a piece of land at a cost of D252,500. Surprisingly, he added, when the land was under construction, someone approached him and claimed ownership of the same land.

Meanwhile, the defendant Alagie Cham told the court that he had only received D98,000 from the plaintiff.

In her ruling, Senior Magistrate Kumba Sillah Camara, said the sum of D98,000 would be taken away from the total amount of D252,000.
The case was later adjourned to 23rd September for continuation.

One Omar Saidy has appeared before the Bundung Magistrates Court presided over by Senior Magistrate Kumba Sillah-Camara on charges of assault and causing actual bodily harm.

Omar Saidy, on July 15, at Abuko in Kanifing Municipality, assaulted one Lamin Ceesay by beating him with a bicycle chain which caused him bodily harm.

When the charge sheet was read to him, he pleaded not guilty.The police prosecutor then asked for an adjournment to allow him to bring his witness to the court.

The accused person was granted a court bail in the sum of D20,000 with a Gambia surety. The case was adjourned to September 15 for continuation of the proceedings. Corporal 134 Sambou represented the IGP.