The criminal trial for alleged conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence involving Saikou Trawally, Sulayman Sidebeh and Yaya Jarju continued recently at the Brikama Magistrates' Court.
Testifying before Magistrate Nkea, the ninth prosecution witness, Edrisa Badjie, told the court that he is a police officer attached to Basse police station. He said he recognised the accused persons, and could recall what happened sometime in the months of April and May 2006.
According to ASP Badjie, when he was the station officer at the Brikama police station, the complainant, Sainey Jarju, came and lodged a complaint to his relief commander, CPL 587 Babucarr Jammeh, that the accused persons and one Ousman Kujabi, who is still at large, took an amount of D967, 800 from him.
He said upon receiving the complaint, he advised Cpl Jammeh to caution the accused persons and open a case file against them, and to send the file to the CID office.
ASP Badjie added that the accused persons confirmed that they have received some money from the complainant.
ASP Badjie further told the court that the accused persons were later cautioned and charged with the offence committed, and an investigation was mounted, at the time he was transferred to Basse police station.
Under cross-examination, the defence counsel B. Jawo asked the witness whether he had found out the purpose of receiving the alleged money from the complainant.
In response, ASP Badjie said the money was received from the complainant for money doubling purposes.
Counsel B. Jawo again asked PW9 why the complainant Sainey Jarju was not arrested, and in response PW9 said the matter had to be investigated before arresting him.
Counsel further put it to PW9 that none of the accused persons had admitted taking the money from the complainant, but PW9 maintained that the accused persons had admitted taking the money from the complainant.
Meanwhile, after the prosecution closed its case, the defence counsel Buba Jawo made a no-case-to-answer submission.
In his submission, Buba Jawo submitted that the accused persons were charged with conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence, and that none of the prosecution witnesses had laid evidence in respect of the offence charged.
He then urged the court to acquit and discharge the accused persons.
In response, Sgt. 1260 Colley submitted that the testimony of the prosecution witnesses was consistent and reliable and he, therefore, urged the court to overrule the defence counsel’s no-case submission, and call on the accused persons to enter into their defence.
The case was adjourned to 6th September 2010 for ruling.
