One Bakary Dampha recently testified in the trial involving one Alex Braimoh, accused of obtaining money by false pretence, before Magistrate Gomez of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.
Dampha told the court that he is a senior license collector at KMC and that he recognised the accused person.
He recalled that on 17 February 2015, his colleague, one Anna Marie Gomez, called him and told him that he wanted the accused to procure a visa for her brother, Pa Gomez.
He said he told Marie to call the accused and let him meet him at his office, and he spoke to the accused in the presence of Marie that the accused wanted to help the said Pa Gomez, as he had a disability programme in Germany.
He said he told the accused to take the contract and the amount was D80,000, adding that the accused asked for advance payment of D15,000 , which was given to him through him (Dampha).
An agreement was made between the two of them, which both of them signed in the presence of an independent witness, one Omar Jaiteh, whom he (Dampha) explained everything to, he said.
He further adduced that after 2-3 months, Marie called and said the accused was playing a game as he issued a two-week visa duration, which was short but said he would issue another visa for a longer duration.
He said that after some time, he met the accused again and told him to return the money.
In February 2015, he and Marie were at Aishamarie Cinema and Marie saw the accused and she shouted at him to stop, he said, adding that they took the accused inside the said cinema and called one Mboob, a police officer, and explained everything to him.
Mboob assigned a police officer to arrest the accused, and both went to Serrekunda Police Station where he gave his statement.
The case was adjourned till 29 June 2015.
