Bintou Ceesay, ex-hotelier at the Sun Beach Hotel in Bakau, was recently arraigned at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court charged with three counts of stealing a motor vehicle, funds received by the agent and funds held under direction.
When the case was called yesterday, the prosecuting officer, Sergeant Manga, told the court the case was supposed to continue for the accused person to cross-examine the first prosecution witness, Mr. Pertti.
However, the accused person informed the court that she has a lawyer who was on his way to the court, and that she was asking for a stand down, which was granted.
Defence counsel E.E. Chime later told the court the defence was applying for an adjournment, on the grounds that he was just coming into the case.
The case was then adjourned till 11 May 2012, for cross-examination.
According to the particulars of offence the accused, Bintou Ceesay, some time in July 2011, at the Gambia Ports Authority in Banjul and diverse places, with intent to permanently deprived the owner, Mr. Pertti Tapio Kuokkanen, stole two vehicles marked Toyota Hiace 1986 model valued at US$2,000 and Toyata Hiace 199 model valued at US$10,500, which were all registered in her name and custody without the consent of the owner.
The particulars of offence on count two stated that some time in July 2011, at the Gambia Ports Authority in Banjul and diverse places, with intent to defraud, she received a container of assorted goods worth US$13,784.92 from Pertti Tapio Kuokkanen, a Finnish national, authorizing or requiring her to sell or otherwise dispose of it and account for the proceeds, which she failed to do.
Count three state that on 3 March 2011, at Banjul and diverse places, with intent to defraud, she received an amount of US$6,296 sent to No 11261666401 and through Western Union under the pretext that she would use the said money for business purposes, which she failed to account for.
