Visa case reaches court

The plaintiffs: Muhammed Sedibeh and Omar Tunkara recently dragged Foday Keita and Wuyeh Suso before Magistrate Drammeh of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court.

The plaintiffs are claiming from the defendants an amount of D30, 000, being the money they paid to the defendants in an agreement or a promise to secure a Turkish visa.

Testifying before the court, Omar Tunkara, the 2nd plaintiff told the court that he recongnised the defendants and that they entered into a visa agreement.

According to him, their agreement with the defendants was that if the defendants procure a “real visa” for him, he will pay them D50, 000.

He informed the court that one night the defendants came to him and asked for the money and that he (the 1st plaintiff Muhammed Sedibeh), and his brother Ba-Jammeh gave them D20, 000 to provide them the visa.

Mr. Tunkara further revealed that the defendants told them that they should make a payment of D50, 000 so that they can provide the visa. He added that they made another payment of D10, 000, making a total D30, 000.

He stated that later the 1st defendant gave him his passport with a visa and some money to board a plane in Dakar and told him that he should provide a hotel reservation and travel insurance documents before taking a flight.

According to him, after meeting those supporting documents, he was told at the Airport that the said visa was not valid.

He further revealed that upon his return from Dakar, he informed the defendants that the visa they have provided for him is not valid and that he wants his money back. He said he made frantic efforts to get his money back, but to no avail.

The case was adjourned to 16th March 2010 for continuation.