By Dawda M: Jallow
An alleged motorbike thief Ali Sidibeh was yesterday arraigned before Magistrate M. Faal of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.
According to the particulars of the offense, Ali on or about the 13 September 2024, at Kairaba Avenue in the Kanifing Municipality stole a motorbike marked TVS with a registration number MC KM 0733D valued at D75,000,being the property of Soni Transfer Bureau.
When the charge was read to him, Ali pleaded not guilty. This prompted the prosecutor, CPL Nuha Bojang, to call his witness, Fatoumata Sillah, a resident of Kanifing South, to take the stand.
Fatoumata in her testimony stated that she is a staff of Soni Transfer Bureau and that her place of work is on Kairaba Avenue. Questioned whether she recognized the accused person, Fatoumata answered in the affirmative. She went on to narrate that:“On the 13th September at about between 1 and 2 pm, I saw the accused sitting on top of our motorbike. He was trying to move the motorbike and I shouted for help and he ran across the highway but he was apprehended by passers-by. He was arrested and taken to the police station.”
Fatoumatta confirmed, under cross-examination, the type and color of the motorbike as well as its value.
Ali, who represented himself, questioned Fatoumata to whether if anything such as a key was seen on him when he was apprehended to which Fatoumata replied in the negative.
The matter was then adjourned to Wednesday,6th November for continuation of the hearing.