Businessman testifies in court

A businessman, Muhammed Sillah, recently testified in the trial of one Ebrima Gassama at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Tabally.

Testifying for the prosecution, Muhammed Sillah told the court that he recognised the accused and could also recall 14 February 2011.

He said that on the aforementioned date, the accused, Ebrima Gassama, came to his shop and requested for some articles like basins, plates and big laundry container (pan).

Sillah further testified that he brought down the items and as he was concentrating on checking the items, the accused took a bag containing an amount of D18, 500 from the drawer with four different cheque books and a passport.

He said the accused later disappeared until at a certain date when he was spotted in Serekunda near the Banjul garage, adding that with the assistance of other people, the accused was arrested and taken to the Serekunda Police Station.

He told the court that he did not recover anything and later made his statement.

According to the particulars of offence, between 14 February 2011 and 17 May 2011, at the Serekunda Market, in the Kanifing Municipality, the accused, Ebrima Gassama, stole from the shop of one Muhammed Sillah and Ousman Bah a bag containing D18, 500 and an empty handbag valued at D250, the properties of the said people.

He was subsequently granted court bail of D50, 000 with two Gambian sureties.

The case was at that juncture adjourned until 5 July 2011.