Alleged false cheques trial commences

The trail of Ousman Barrow Jatta who was charged with issuing false cheques commenced on Monday 30th August 2010 before Magistrate Ceesay of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court.

Testifying, the first prosecution witness, Ebrima Jammeh, told the court that he works at Access Bank, and that he recognised the accused person. 

According to him, sometime in March 2010, the accused person approached the bank and said that he wanted to supply Gamtel with materials, but was short of funds.

He said he told the accused to write to the bank about the supply, so that the loan can be granted. PW1 testified that Gamtel sent the bank a statement that they will pay to the accused person's account with the bank.

He adduced that the bank eventually gave the accused D39, 500 for the supply, and Gamtel later paid an amount of D72, 500 to the account.

Jammeh further revealed that they subtracted their loan amount from the said money, and that the accused started to withdraw from his account.

As at 23rd March 2009, the accused person's outstanding balance was D5, 000 in his account, he added.

Further testifying, PW1 stated that the accused went to the bank's Brusubi branch and made a transfer of D20, 000 from his current account to his savings account.

On the same date, PW1 stated the accused went to Serrekunda branch and make a withdrawal of D20, 000.

He revealed that during these transactions they had some break down in their system of communication, and he realised the overdraft account three days later when he was in Banjul.

PW1 further testified that he later called the accused to report to his office in Banjul, where he explained everything to him, and the accused promised to settle the balance.

He said, after that, they tried to contact the accused, but to no avail. 

Subsequently, he was instructed by his boss to report the matter to the legal unit of the bank.

In December 2009, they convened a meeting with the accused at the bank's legal unit, and it was on the same day that the accused issued the two cheques in the name of Gam Globally.

He said that the first cheque was for January 2010 with a face valued of D19, 000, while the second cheque was for February 2010 with a face value of D22, 000.

The witness identified the said cheques, and the first cheque was admitted and tendered as an exhibit, while the second was objected to due to the fact that it was not in the original form.

Jammeh told the court that the said cheques were not honoured due to lack of sufficient funds in the accused person's account.

He said that at the police station they provided a statement in respect of the accused person's account.

The said document was admitted and tendered as an exhibit. The witness adduced that after the said cheques bounced, they tried to issue a debit advice to the accused, but were not able to do so.

The case was subsequently adjourned to 7th September 2010 for continuation