One Salieu Joof, accused of stealing, recently opened his defence at the Bundung Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate M. Sarre.
Salieu Joof, a businessman, said he met the complainant at the Serrekunda Market in a shop where they go to chat, and in their conversation he learned that the complainant is selling a vehicle.
They discussed and agreed on a price. He then asked the complainant if he could take it for a test ride. They went together up to Yundum; and on their way back, at Lamin picked a lady who said she was going to Westfield. At Tabokoto, they were stopped by a police officer.
The police asked him (the accused) for his driving license, and told the police he has no license. The police officer said the car must be parked, and the complainant tried to negotiate with the police, and gave him D50, but the police officer refused to negotiate.
At the Ebo Town Junction, the complainant asked him to drop, as he was proceeding to Westfield to drop the lady; and he dropped.
According to the accused person, one old lady called his attention that something had fallen from the complainant, and it was his wallet. He opened the wallet and found an amount of D60 and a Spanish driving license, the accused told the court.
The accused said he returned to the shop where he and the complainant met, but the shop was closed.
On the following day, he (accused) was looking for the complainant at around the fire station and saw the complainant, who started to shout “thief!”
The accused decided to run to the fire station, before being beaten up.
At the fire station, he was asked what the matter was and explained. The fire officers detained him there and asked the complainant to report the matter to the police.
The police came; he was arrested and taken to the police station.
The case was adjourned for cross-examination.
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