The alleged Gampetroleum theft case involving nineteen accused persons Monday continued at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate N. Samateh.
The accused persons are Kebba Bojang, Juma Jallow, Ebrima Njie, Musa Manneh, Lamin Sarr, Musa Jarjue, Lamin Manneh, Kalipha Colley, Bakary Jallow, Fabakary Sanyang, Omar Sonko, Mustapha Sawaneh, Muhammed Jammeh, Malayin Darboe, Faburama B Jobe, Kairaba MK Camara and Lamin Barrow
They were charged with conspiracy and theft, allegations they all denied.
The particulars of the offence on count one stated that the accused persons on 4 September 2012, at Mandinary village, in Kombo North, jointly conspired together to commit a felony.
Count two read that the accused persons on the same date, month and year and at the same village stole 53 gallon of gasoil of 20 liters valued at D49,820, being the property of Gampetroleum.
Before the continuation of the witness’ testimony, the police prosecutor, Inspector Dawda Sanyang, applied for the court to move and inspect the alleged 53 stolen gallons of 20 liters gasoil inside the store in the court premises.
The prosecutor’s application was granted and after the inspection by the magistrate, the prosecutor then applied to tender the said gallons containing gasoil as an exhibit.
The defence counsel made an objection on the grounds that the prosecutor could not tell whether each 53 gallons were 20 litre of gasoil.
However, the defence counsel’s objection was overruled and the 53 gallons were admitted as exhibits.
Under cross-examination, Demba Saidy, CID station officer at the Brikama Police Station, said he is a CID officer and his duty is to investigate the criminal matters or crimes.
He said as CID officer he carried out the investigation of this matter too, adding that he compiled his report and also visited the locus.
Officer Saidy said he could not remember how many tanks were at the Gampetroleum but the tanks were metal made, stating that where those tanks were kept was fenced by the concrete two in one but he could not say the height of the fence.
According to him, during his investigation, he did not find the accused person in the depot.
He added that where the tanks were, no one could have access to go in unless the person used the main gate because there were two gates.
Counsel then put it to him that there was no other gate, only the main gate, but the witness answered in the negative.
He said the accused persons connected a pipe to the tank and they used it to drill fuel into the vehicle and then into the gallons, adding that at the time of his investigation, he found the security in the depot.
Counsel again put it to him that the alleged container did not belong to Gampetroleum because one Lamin Kombo, a witness for the prosecution, told the court that he owned 15 gallons, but the witness said those empty 15 gallons were different from the 53 gallons.
The case was adjourned till 23 June 2014, for the continuation of cross-examination.