Gold dust case resumes

The criminal case involving the state against seven accused persons resumed yesterday, before Justice E. Dada of the High Court in Banjul.

The accused persons are Oumie Saffiatou Jallow, Mansa Bah, Ousman Sowe, S. D York, Alpha Kanteh, Abdou Camara and Kemo Fatty.

They were indicted on three counts of conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretense and cheating.

The prosecution alleged that the accused persons between December 2013 and March 2014 in the Kanifing Municipality and diverse places in The Gambia, conspired to defraud one Abdoulie Bittaye the sum of seven million, four hundred and sixty-five thousand dalasi (D7,465,000).

The prosecution further alleged that the accused persons with intent to defraud obtained the said sum of money from Abdoulie Bittaye, with the representation that they were to sell 50 kilograms of gold, which representation they knew to be false.

It was also alleged that the accused persons by fraudulent trick and device obtained from Abdoulie Bittaye the said money being payment made for the purposes of 50 kilograms of gold, which they never supplied.

The prosecution led by state counsel A. Mendy called the second prosecution witness, Abdoulie Bittaye, who testified on oath and told the court that he is an entrepreneur and a consultant.

The witness said he knew the accused persons and that, sometime in August 2013, he was introduced to the 4th accused by one Sedat Bittaye while he was in England at the time.

He said he was told that the 4th accused would offer prayers because it was a new business, as it was in Africa that his partners felt the need to explore spiritual blessings.

The witness added that due to logistical challenges in terms of flight schedule, they decided to fly to Sierra Leone and The Gambia and back.

The witness further said they finally arrived in The Gambia, and Sedat Bittaye was waiting with a four-wheel drive, but due to constant break down of the vehicle, they finally arrived at Buduk village, the village of the 4th accused, in the evening and they were offered food.

He told the court that during the course of meeting the 4th accused, they found him in a big gathering with people fanning him, and he had a long cutlass and he told them that he saw their future.

The witness said the 4th accused requested for 10,000 pounds sterling from him and his colleagues, and that offering in the form of cow and camel would be slaughtered, adding that the 4th accused displayed some arrogance and was threatening in nature.

He further said the 4th accused took them to a very dark spot on top of a hill, where his genie and beings are been stationed.

The witness revealed that the 4th accused requested that they individually climb up to meet him, where he will be talking to his beings and demanded that he buys a goat to be slaughtered there.

Hearing continues today.