In bankers’ trial, prosecution witness challenged

Abdourahman Jallow, who is the first prosecution witness in the case involving Haddy Jatta, Kabiro Darboe and Momodou Secka, bankers at BSIC bank who were charged with conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent false accounting, was on 3 February 2015 cross-examined by defence lawyer Mboge, who represented Momodou Secka before Magistrate Tabally at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.

The witness was asked whether it was the first time to dealt with the bank for foreign currency transactions.

Jallow in response told the court that it was not the first time, but could not remember how long he has been dealing with the bank. However, he said it would take him a whole day to do some transactions with the bank.

Mr Jallow added that he only dealt with Haddy Jatta throughout, adding that the bank would give him an RTGS when he deals with the bank.

The RTGS receipts were with his boy, Samba Mballow, who was in the court room, he further told the court.

Lawyer Mboge then applied for the receipts to be produced by the witness, which was granted.

At this juncture, the witness was given the receipts and confirmed that they were four in number, adding that they were issued to him by the bank.

Lawyer Mboge applied to tender the four RTGS receipts as defence exhibits.

Prosecutor Chief Inspector Touray, who was being assisted by prosecutors Jarju and Colley, did not raise any objection.

The documents were admitted by the court.

Mr Jallow said he never gave the receipts to someone to be read for him, because he knew that they contained his money, adding that he usually sent Samba Mballow for his transactions.

He never knew that Samba Mballow was an accused person, and had bailed him at the police and at the court because he is his boy.

It was put to him that Samba Mballow was an accused person, but he said he was not in court when Samba Mballow was arraigned.

Lawyer Mboge further put it to him that it was possible that Samba Mballow went away with the $68,969 when the RTGS receipt was prepared.

In response, Mr Jallow said that was not possible, adding that Samba Mballow was issued with RTGS receipts when he paid the $68,969 to the bank.

He employed Samba Mballow, who is literate in English, and pays him D2,500 monthly as his salary.

Still under cross-examination, he said Samba Mballow has worked with him for two to three years, and is a family man.

Told that he did not speak the truth, Jallow said he did so, adding that Samba Mballow knows a lot about his business because he would give him millions to do some transactions for him.

It was put to him that someone who is close to you can run away with your millions, but he said he does not know about that.

Told that Samba Mballow was given another document other than the RTGS receipts, Jallow denied that, adding that Samba Mballow did not take the $68,969.

Mr Jallow further stated that he did not know to whom Samba Mballow paid the $68,969, but had sent him to Haddy Jatta to give her the money.

He told the court that he was not forced or beaten when he made his statement.

The said statement was given to him to go through and confirmed that $69,969 was written in it, adding that the police officer who wrote $69,696 in his statement instead of $68,969 made a mistake, and that his statement was read to him.

It was put to him that Samba Mballow cheated him $1,000 compared to what was written in his statement, but he denied this.

The case was adjourned to 16, 23 and 25 February 2015, when the hearing will continue.