Man arraigned for defamation

One Yusupha Sarjo was yesterday arraigned before Magistrate Jobarteh of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, charged with impersonation in general, obtaining money by false pretence, cheating and defamation.

However, he told the court he would like to hire the service of a lawyer before he could plead to the charges.

The charge sheet on count one read that the accused, Yusupha Sarjo, some time in December 2013, at Pipeline and diverse places in the Kanifing Municipality, with intent to defraud, represented himself to be one Yusupha Sanneh, personal assistant of the President, to wit he collected D180,000 from Muhammed Salieu Jallow for the purpose of having his Forex Bureau licence released from the authorities.

Count two stated that in the same month at Serrekunda and diverse places in the Kanifing Municipality, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, he obtained from Abdourahman and Muhammed Salieu Jallow D20,000 under the pretext he was going to help them have their Forex Bureau licence restored back to them, which representation was false and he knew it to be false at the time.

Count three indicated that in the same month at Kairaba Avenue and diverse places in the Kanifing Municipality, by false means of fraudulent tricks, he obtained from Muhammed Salieu Jallow D180,000 for the purpose of having his Forex Bureau licence restored to him an amount greater than what he should have paid.

Count four revealed that in the same month in Serrekunda, in the Kanifing Municipality, with intent to injure the reputation of Yusupha Sanneh, personal assistant to the President, he falsely represented himself to be himself thereby exposing him to hatred, contempt, or ridicule.

He was granted bail of D150,000 with two Gambian sureties and one of whom must deposit title deeds within the Greater Banjul Area and each must swear to an affidavit of means and deposit ID cards. The case was adjourned till 21 August 2014.