A man called Modou Kujabi recently testified in defence of an allegation against him, before Magistrate Lamin George of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court.
Mr Kujabi was charged with conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence, a charge he had denied.
He said he resides at Talinding and he is a taxi driver, adding that he did not know the other accused person in the case, who is said to be at large.
He told the court that he knew the complainant, with whom he had some transactions.
According to the accused, he received a phone call from a man by the name John, who told him that he needed him, but he told John that he was at work and would see him later.
He said that when he met John, he told him he knew a whiteman that came for a business trip in the country.
Kujabi further informed the court that John told him that the whiteman came to buy cool stone from the complainant and one Alpha Jallow.
He added that John said to him that the complainant and Alpha Jallow could not speak English and the whiteman could not also speak their languages.
"John finally told me to assist in the said transaction, which I did," he stated.
The accused narrated that both parties came to an agreement in the sum of D234,000, but the sale of the said cool stone did not take place in his presence.
He added that John later gave him D40,500 for his services. While denying committing any offence, he said the police came to him and he returned the sum of D38,390 that was given to him by John.
Responding to some questions posed by police prosecutor Inspector Mballow, the accused denied he was the one pretending as a customs officer from
He also denied calling the complainant to do his duty as a customs officer for the purported cool stone.
He stated that John was among the accused brought to the court, who were said to be at large.
He revealed that his wife gave his telephone number to John, but denied changing his voice to be the whiteman and to serve as a customs officer.
The case was adjourned till 17 November 2010.
