Goldsmith testifies in court

Modou Jallow, a goldsmith, on 31 January 2012 testified against one Foday Jallow and Ebrima Jallow, who were charged with obtaining money by false pretence, before Magistrate Ngube of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.

In his evidence, he told the court that he lives at Serrekunda Bundung Borehole.

He said he is a goldsmith, and knew the accused persons.

He stated that Foday Jallow came to his workshop together with other people in December 2011, adding that Ebrima Jallow, the second accused person, was among them.

He added that Foday Jallow told him he had some gold, and wanted him to test it.

He said he asked Foday Jallow to show him the gold, and that he would have to test it and would tell him the quantity, and issue him with a testing certificate.

 Foday Jallow was with a white man, who agreed that the gold be tested in their presence.

The witness told the court the gold was pure, and was 22 carat, according to the test.

He stated that he asked them whether they were satisfied with the test, and they answered in the positive, adding that the white man signed the certificate.

The said certificate was tendered as an exhibit.

He went on to testify that he was later invited at the Serrekunda Police Station, where the police said that they wanted him to test some gold for them.

He said he found the accused persons at the police station.

Further testifying, he told the court that the police officers went with him and the accused persons to his house.

He said the police officers gave him two substances of gold to be tested, indicating that they were all fake.

He narrated that he made another certificate in the presence of the police officers.

The said substances were tendered as exhibits along with the certificate he issued to the police officers.

He added that he returned with the police officers and the accused persons to the police station, where he wrote his statement.

The case continues.