The trial
commenced yesterday of Lang Conteh, a former general manager at Kanilai Family
Farms, at the Banjul magistrates’ court before acting-principal magistrate
Lamin Mbai.
Lang Conteh was charged with the offence of stealing.
The first prosecution witness is Ousman Bah, a police officer at the major crime unit at police headquarters in Banjul.
Bah told the court that, around January 2014, he was assigned to obtain a cautionary statement from the accused person.
The statement was tendered and admitted as an exhibit.
Under cross-examination by defence lawyer LK Mboge, police officer Bah told the court that he cautioned the accused person in connection with funds he was given to renovate a building near the Albert Market in Banjul, and that these were the funds they were asked to investigate.
Asked how long ago the accused person was arrested, Bah said he did not know; that all he knew was that he was assigned to investigate the matter. He could not also say how much money was involved.
Counsel said the accused person was arrested in January 2014, and was in custody until 7 July 2014 when he was arraigned before the court.
The case was adjourned to 19 August 2014, for continuation of the hearing.
The charge sheet read that Lang Conteh, some time between 2012 and 2013 in Banjul, stole D1, 538, 804. 95, being the property of the Kanilai Family Farms, and thereby committed an offence.
