Almame Ceesay, a restaurant supervisor at Kombo Beach Hotel, who was charged with conspiracy and stealing by clerk along with Lamin Jallow, Maimuna Touray and Gibril Jatta, opened his defence on 9 March 2016, before Magistrate Wilson of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.
This followed a ruling delivered by the magistrate that the prosecution had made a prima facie case against the accused persons, that warranted them to open their defence after she went through the evidence of the prosecution witnesses.
Testifying, Almame Ceesay told the court that he was at home on 14 November 2014.
He said Fama Sanneh Samura, the assistant Food and Beverage Manager, called him on the phone, adding that this coincided with his off-day.
Mr Ceesay further adduced that it was Fama Sanneh Samura who told him on the phone on the same day, 14 November 2014, while he was not on duty, that he (Fama) went to the hotel (Kombo Beach Hotel) to report to his boss, Amba Barry, the F&B manager, that he (Fama) was supposed to be in his village, but had an accident with the family at Brikama.
Mr Ceesay said Fama told him on the phone that he could not go to the village, and this was why he went to report to his boss that he was not able to go to the village.
Still testifying, Mr Ceesay stated that it was Fama who told him on the phone that Amba Barry, the F&B Manager, told Fama that the Personnel Manager, Amie Conteh, came to the F&B manager’s office and told the F&B manager that the General Manager told her (Amie Conteh) that some group of guests from Bakotou Hotel came to the restaurant for breakfast, and the bill was not paid at the reception by the staff on duty.
He added that Fama further told him on the phone that it was the F&B manager who asked Fama to investigate the matter on the same day, 14 November 2014.
Almame Ceesay further stated that his telephone conversation between him and Fama went off, adding that Fama did not call him again and he too did not call Fama.
Mr Ceesay narrated that when he resumed work on 15 November 2014, around 8.45a.m, some guests walked at the restaurant and Fama told him that those were the same guests who came to the restaurant on 14 November 2014.
Almame Ceesay further told the court that the guests then had their breakfast and each of them paid D250 and he (Mr Ceesay) raised the bill, took it to the reception and paid for it.
Mr Ceesay said around 11.50a.m, the F&B manager called him into her office, adding that upon arrival, he met the Personnel Manager, Amie Conteh, in the office who told the F&B manager that the guests said they paid their breakfast on 14 November 2014, to a staff who wore a pink shirt, and who was fat and dark in complexion.
“Amie Conteh then said it was me to whom the guests paid,” Almame Ceesay told the court.
The case was adjourned until 21 March 2016, for continuation.
Prosecutor 4443 Sowe represented the Inspector General of Police.
