The theft case involving one Matarr Jammeh Wednesday continued at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court with the testimony of the first prosecution witness.
Continuing his testimony, PW1, Lamin Bojang, told the court that during the meeting, one Omar Sowe, chairman of Pirany Committee, explained that the accused never gave him the money, which was in the presence of the accused.
According to PW1, Omar further told the meeting that the accused said to him he gave the money - D25,000 - to money doublers.
The witness further adduced that Omar also said at the meeting that when the accused told him what he had done, he promised the accused he would give him a loan of D10,000 to pay the debt.
Bojang said that Omar also stated at the meeting that the accused would sell part of his land to pay the rest of the outstanding balance.
“I asked the accused why he did not inform the committee about it and he said he was ashamed to inform them,” he added.
Bojang said they agreed to hold another meeting comprising all the six villages that are part of the committees - Pirang, Bonto A, Bonto B, Berending, Kuloro and Tujiran.
“At the meeting, all the committees agreed to write a letter to the accused, requesting him to pay D155,000, failing which, the matter will be reported to the police,” PW1 further explained.
“Being the secretary of the committee, I wrote a letter to the accused, signed it and served him a copy. I copied to all the six villages as well and a copy was kept in our file. Another copy was given to the fraud squad,” he said.
The witness identified the said letter, which was later tendered and admitted as exhibit.
Hearing was adjourned till 14 March 2012.
