D2M scout jamboree case in court

Siaka Sonko a student at the Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI) had  given evidence against one Babucarr Khan, who is standing trial for allegedly receiving D2, 000,000 from 35 people under the pretext that they were to attend a scout jamboree.

The case came up recently before Magistrate Kayode of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court.

In his testimony, the witness told the court that he recognized the accused person, who was introduced to him by his sister.

The sister, according to Mr. Sonko, told him that the accused person could help him to travel overseas, and that the accused had actually helped some people to travel.

He revealed that he gave D90, 000 to the accused person, through his sister, to help him travel to the US.

Mr. Sonko went to say that accused told him that the said D90, 000 was for a visa, scout uniform, air ticket and pocket money. He also told the court that, after the payment was made, the accused gave him a receipt.

The receipt was tendered by the prosecutor, without any objection by the defence counsel.

Mr. Sonko said that after the receipt was issued, the accused told him that they would be travelling to the US within three months.

He informed the court that he never travelled before to the US, and that the accused person never refunded him his money, as he does not know where he works.

According to the particulars of the offence, the accused person, Babucarr Khan, in the year 2008 at New Jeshwang and diverse places, being employed as Liaison Officer of the Gambia Scout Union, fraudulently and unlawfully obtained money amounting to D2, 000,000.

The said money was allegedly obtained from one Bakary Singhateh and 34 others under the pretext that they were to attend a scout jamboree, which at the time of obtaining the money the accused person knew was false.

Babucarr Khan denied the charge.