Alleged Forex dealer trial continues

Pa Modou Jah, an officer of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA), recently testified in the trial involving one Modou Salieu Jallow, charged with illegal foreign dealing, before Justice Emmanuel Amadi of the Special Criminal Court.

Officer Jah told the court that he is a narcotic officer, and during the alleged incident, he was posted at the Banjul NDEA headquarters annex.

On 4 June2013, security taskforce was setup comprising of NDEA, GPF, NIA, and GRA, and the instructions they received from their head offices was to embark on the raid on all unlicensed foreign exchange dealers in order to minimize the skyrocketing demand of foreign currency in the country, he said.

The witness added that he was part of the members of the team dispatched at the Westfield Junction where they received information that illegal foreign exchange vendors were conducting business.

He said that at around Castle Petrol Station where he was with one Korka Bah they stopped the accused, Modou Sailu Bah.

He said the accused approached them and asked if they needed foreign currency, and Korka then gave him $150, adding that the accused went and brought D7,185.

“We asked him to get into the vehicle and sit behind and he complied. We showed him our cards, and told him that we are detective officers,” he said.

They arrested and took him to the Kanifing Police Station where he was kept and he the witness wrote his statement, and the said D7,185 was handed over to one Saikou Jallow, who is an official from GRA.

The case continues.