Court hears testimony in obtaining money by false pretence

Jarika Kabba, a prosecution witness, yesterday testified in the case of obtaining money by false pretence involving one Alfred David, at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.

Kabba told the court he is a businessman who recognised the accused person, adding that on 19 August 2010, the accused came and found him in his compound.

He said the accused told him that his younger brother, one Momo David, was supposed to bring business into The Gambia, adding that when he asked the accused the kind of business, he told him it was diamond business.

PW1 further testified that the accused informed him that his younger brother came up to Basse, but could not arrive at the area because of lack of transport fare.

He said he took D6,000 and gave it to the accused for his younger brother, stating that the accused later came back and said to him that his younger brother came up to Kombo Brikama, but was apprehended by the police with the diamond and that he demanded D6,000 again.

PW1 further adduced that on the evening of the same day the accused came and said to him that the police demanded another D5, 000, which he gave to the accused.

The accused again came and demanded D10, 000, which he gave him, adding that whenever the accused appeared, he would give him some money.

He said the accused later told him that his younger brothers’ case had been transferred to the police headquarters in Banjul.

Kabba said he spent D68, 000 on the accused person when he was in Brikama.

He said the accused came and told him that the police in Banjul had demanded D7, 000 for negotiation for his brother, adding that he spent another D62, 000 on the accused in Banjul.

He said that after the accused came and told him to provide an air ticket for his younger brother because the matter was getting beyond control,which would cost each of them D9,000, he gave the accused the money they needed.

Still testifying, the witness told the court that the accused came and told him that he (the accused) had got clearance, but the police had taken the diamond and given it to one Kebba Susso.

He said the accused told him that he and a Captain would be travelling relating to the said matter and demanded D62, 000, which he gave him.

The witness further posited that the accused came and told him that he learned that the said Kebba Susso was in Numuyel Village and further told him that the captain said he was going to deploy three men to Numuyel to arrest the said Kebba Susso concerning the said diamond.

He demanded D32, 000 for the said men, which he gave him, adding that the accused later told him that the said Kebba Susso had left for Europe with the diamond.

The accused again took money from him in pieces until it amounted to D80, 000, he told the court.

The case continues on 9 May 2012.