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Alleged car theft case continues

Apr 14, 2010, 11:31 AM | Article By: Dawda Faye

The trial of one Ensa Badjie, who is charged with stealing a car (Hyundai Sante with number B5) and four engines continued recently before Magistrate Drammeh of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court.

In his testimony, the complainant, Alhagie Secka, told the court that he lives in Fajikunda and is a motor mechanic by profession, and that he knows the accused, who also lives in Fajikunda and is mechanic as well.

According to him, in 2009 the accused sold a vehicle to him, and that it had an accident.

He adduced that the accused told him that the vehicle was given to him by the President.

Still testifying, he stated that they had bargained on a price of D120, 000 and he also gave the accused a car, in addition to the Hyundai vehicle. He narrated that after the agreement, he gave the accused D50, 000 as an advance payment and another D45, 000. He added that the accused gave him the car for repair.

He further revealed that he gave the accused a Toyota Land Cruiser as part of the payment.

Mr. Secka further adduced that he should pay to the accused D25, 000 as last payment, but the accused did not transfer ownership to him after repairing the vehicle.

He revealed that the accused had returned the car which was a part payment to him and the sum of D50, 000, remaining a balance of D45, 000. He said he returned the Hyundai vehicle to the accused.

Under cross-examination, Defence Counsel Mboge, put it to the complainant that there was no contract between him and the accused, which the complainant denied.

When the defence counsel asked the complainant whether he was issued with a receipt to show that he paid some monies to the accused, the complainant answered in the negative. Asked whether he requested for such receipts, he again answered in the negative.

"This shows that no transaction transpired between you and the accused," Lawyer Mboge challenged.

The complainant denied this.