It would be recalled that one Salimatou Gaye was accused of stealing by agent before the then magistrate, Omar Jabang, and pleaded not guilty to all counts that were read to her.
She was, however, given a bail of 1.6 million dalasis or a landed property within the Kanifing Municipality which was equivalent to the said amount, but she could not fulfill the bail conditions.
The first prosecuting witness, Amadou Nyang, told the court that he was on a business deal with one Pape Jagne, a Gambian based in Belgium, as a sale agent who introduced him to the accused, Salimatou Gaye, on the purchase of three cars - a truck worth 22,500 euros, a Sprinter bus at €3,300 and a Mercedes Benz at €1,700 amounting to €27,500 equivalent to D1,567,000 then at the rate of D57 dalasis per euro.
He explained that all the money was given to the accused in three installments, adding that he could only remember the first transaction, which was D472,000, and all the transactions to the accused were done by him.
He further said that after a week, he was able to get a contract from the company where Mr Jagne was supposed to buy the cars at Degroote in Belgium. “I spoke to one Mr Rubb, who confirmed to me that Jagne did go there but did not pay for the cars and he only deposited 100 Euros to the company,” he said.
The witness further stated that he then called Pape Jagne and told him that he had spoken to the guy at the company and he ensured that no money was paid in the purchase of the cars.
The next day, he said Pape called him in the presence of Mr Rubb and then later claimed that there was no transaction and the money was missing from him.
Witness explained that he then realised that there was foul play and reported the matter to the police.
“It was then I confirmed the lady in question did not send the money, rather it was in her account and later withdrawn,” he pointed out.
He further said the accused was asked for the money by the police and she said that she had sent the money including the transaction receipts to Pape as that was the instruction given to her, but the witness said that the revelation showed differently.
The case was adjourned until 10 January 2024.
