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Alleged burglar opens defence

Feb 10, 2014, 9:47 AM | Article By: Malamin L.M. Conteh

One Tijan Ceesay, a resident of Fagi-Kunda, who is facing a charge of breaking and entering into a dwelling house, recently opened his defence, at the Bundung Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Ibrahim Kijera.

He was alleged to have broken and entered into the dwelling house of one Ousman Jallow, which he had denied.

Giving his side of the incident, the accused told the court that he knew the complainant, and that they lived in the same area.

He said he is a mason by profession, and every day, he would go to work and close late in the day, adding that at night he would stay at home and go to bed after drinking some China Green Tea, also called ‘Attaya’, because the following day he would go to work.

“All the allegations against me are false; they are not true. I never broke or entered the house of the complainant, as alleged by the prosecution,” said the accused in his defence.

He added that he was not even arrested in the compound of the complainant as alleged by the complainant.

He adduced that he was arrested in the street, at night, and at the time of his arrest, nothing was found on him.

There was nothing in the complainant’s house which he could steal, he stated, adding that there used to be a time he was visiting one of his friends who lived in that compound, but then the complainant was not staying in the compound.

The accused said he was detained at the station after obtaining statement from him, and he would still stand by that statement, even though he was not educated.

“I have thumb-printed the paper after giving the statement, and I can recorgnise the said statement if shown to me,” he said.

He identified the statement when it was shown to him.

The case continues for cross-examination.