Gibril Colley, alias Sultan, an investigating officer, testified on 10 May 2011 before Principal Magistrate FL Drammeh of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court in over half a million worth of jewellery theft case.
The said Jewellery is believed to be owned by Hon. Deputy Speaker, Fatou Mbye.
In his testimony, detective first class 1068 Colley told the court that he is a police officer attached to the Kanifing Police Station.
He said he knew the complainant Hon. Fatou Mbye and that he recognised the accused person, Ida Kumba Drammeh. He also adduced that he could recall 13 October 2010.
According to him, on the date in question, his detective boss Ensa Danso received a case file from the charge office for further investigation for stealing from a dwelling house. “My boss instructed me to conduct an investigation into the matter,” Colley told the court.
He conducted an investigation and during the course of the investigation he visited the scene after which the accused was interrogated.
“During interrogation, the accused denied all allegations levelled against her,” he told the court.
Detective Colley revealed that the accused was alleged to have stolen from a dwelling house of cash amount and jewelry items.
He admitted that after the accused denies the allegation, she was detained for further investigation.
Still testifying, he told the crowded court that “accused was detained for 72 hours while a search was also conducted in her room.”
According the witness, the accused was later charged and granted bail while she was still subjected to investigation.
He testified that during further interrogation of the accused, she admitted that the very day of the incident she went to the complainant’s house and after which she went to
Detective Colley adduced that the accused further stated that she received D11, 000 in Serrekunda sent to her from abroad by someone else.
The witness indicated that findings were done on the allegation made by the accused and it was discovered that they were correct.
According to him, on reaching findings on the said D11, 000 alleged to have sent to her from abroad, the accused absconded.
He finally asserted that he came to find out that the complainant’s complaint was accurate that the accused had all means and access to enter into her house.
Under cross-examination by the defence counsel E.M. Sissoho, the officer revealed that at the time the incident took place the complainant was not in the country.
When quizzed by defence counsel on how many people were living in the house, the witness replied: “That is very irrelevant to my investigation.”
He denied knowing Saffie Adama, Aji Njillan Ngum, Amie Camara and others.
Still testifying detective Colley announced that he had been investigating for seven years now. He also denied allegation, as claimed by the defence counsel, of threatening to torture the accused at the NIA.
The case was then adjourned for defence till 25 May 2010.
According to the charged sheet, the accused Ida Kumba Drammeh on 19 September 2010 at Kanifing East Layout, stole from the house of Hon. Fatou Mbye cash amount and jewelry of a total amount of D737, 500.
