One Ismaila Suso, a hotelier recently testified before Senior Magistrate Abdoulie Mbacke of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court in the trial of one Ousman Ndure.
In his testimony, the witness told the court that four weeks ago, he was called upon by the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) and Group 4 Security personnel that they caught the accused Ousman Ndure, stealing on the third floor of the building of the Former African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies.
He adduced that he was informed that the accused was using a screw driver to unscrew the aluminum window frame, and that a bunch of aluminium frames were packed and placed aside by the accused person whose intention was to take them away without the knowledge and authority from the Sissoho family.
He went on to say that, the whole scenario was explained to him and the matter was reported to the Kairaba Police Station, and that he personally visited the building. He added that there were a lot of damages and broken glasses everywhere and those rubber bands were also thrown on the floor.
He indicated that there were eight apartments in the building, all of which, he said were affected. He further narrated that they recovered two bunches of aluminium frames and interior wooden door, toilet seat and kitchen sinks, all valued at D870, 000.
At this juncture, the accused changed his plea from not guilty to guilty.
As a result, Magistrate Mbacke handed him a custodial sentence of two and a half years imprisonment with hard labour.
