The prosecution first witness, Mamadou Saho recently testified in the ongoing criminal trial involving one Bamba Mbake Gaye before Magistrate Secka of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court.
Bamba Mbake Gaye is charged with obtaining money by false pretence, a charge he vehemently denied.
Testifying for the prosecution, (PW1), Mamadou Saho told the court that, he was introduced to the accused by his uncle that he is a member of NGOs and for him to apply to be the promoter of the organisation.
He revealed that, the accused told him to pay a fee of 1000 Euros, but he (PW1) told him that he did not have the whole amount, but he will deposit 700 Euros.
According to PW1, the accused told him that he would issue him a receipt on completion of the 1000 Euros.
Mr. Saho further adduced that the accused also told him to pay 600 Euros for registration for Masag Engineering so that he would be part of the NGO's, and a receipt was issued to that effect.
He adduced that after the accused had failed the two appointments with regards to the NGOs, he became suspicious and asked him as a member of the organisation can he get address or telephone number of the said NGO's.
In reply, he said the accused told him that he should not tell him what to do. Further testifying, PW1 said he also told the accused to do an agreement that would show that he has deposited 700 Euros. In reply, the accused told him that he was not in possession of his stamp.
PW1 further told the court that, as he no longer trusted the accused, he wanted to withdraw. PW1 revealed that the accused told him to write and put the receipt references numbers, but he (accused) refused to produce the documents. He said he then browsed the Senegalese yellow page in the Internet, but he could not found any address or telephone numbers of the said organisation. He added that the accused also gave him an email address and he tried them, but there was no reply.
"Then I take him to Bakau Police Station and a statement was obtained from me," he added.
According to the charge sheet, between the months of May and July, 2010, at Bakau in the Kanifing Municipality, Bamba Mbake Gaye, with intent to defraud and by false pretence obtained from one Mamodou Saho, the sum of Euros 1,500 with the representation that he had an NGO, which he wanted to partner with him, and that the payment of the above is a condition precedent to appointment as a promoter, which in fact was false.
The case was adjourned to 16th August 2010 for continuation.