By Mustapha Jarju
Mariama Jagne a resident of Sukuta and a business lady who runs a fashion shop in Manjai last Thursday testified in Karanta Darboe’s case of “obtaining goods by pretense’’ contrary to section 288 of the criminal code cap 10:01 volume 3 laws of the Gambia.
Madam Jagne while being cross-examined by Police Prosecutor Nuha Bojang before Magistrate Colley of Kanifing Magistrates’ Court said, she recognized Karanta as the person who came to her fashion shop on 27th March, 2023.
Mariama while recalling what happened between her and Karanta, said she was in her shop when Karantacame and said he needed some items.
She told the court how Karanta first met with her at the shop and took ash color champion jumper and a pair of trousers. She said the accused also took a pair of shoes.
According to her, Karanta took out an amount of money which was in Switzerland currency but she admitted that she did not know that money. Then Karanta
told her that that was the equivalent of D35,000.00
“I don’t even hold the money with my hand and he told me he was going to change the money at a nearby Western Union shop,’’ Mariama said. A little while later, he came back saying he could not get change as the Western Union guy did not have such an amount.
‘’Did you trust him when he told you that?’’ Police Prosecutor Bojang asked Mariama.
‘’I trust him because I don’t know him,’’ the witness responded.
She said after Karanta collected the items from the fashion shop and went away in an ash-colored vehicle which is a BMW mark with no number plate.
“He went with the items without paying,” said the witness.
Meanwhile, Mariama further told the court that, Karanta made a comeback to her shop and took underwear shirt, T-shirt, Apple Watch, cover shoes and trousers as well as shorts.
“So, I calculated all and showed him his bill. When we calculated everything together the first price was D14, 900 but he told me to add the D100 to make it D15,000,” she stated.
At that point, the matter was adjourned to the 18th of December, 2023 for the continuation of cross-examination.
