By: Isatou Sarr
The Brikama Magistrates’ Court, presided over by magistrate K.B Sambou, on Monday issued an order for the remand in custody of a certain Amadou Jallow for allegedly stealing a motor vehicle in the Kombo South town of Gunjur.
According to the prosecution, led by Mariama A. Badjie, Amadou stole the C-class Benz in 2019. The vehicle, valued at D350,000, was the property of one Ousman Touray.
Ousman testified on Monday as the first prosecution witness. In his testimony, he confirmed knowing Amadou in 2019 and when asked to explain what transpired between them that year, Ousman said: “My brother, who is resident in Germany,bought a C-Class Benz vehicle for me. When the car arrived, I went to the Ports to pick it up. I should have used it as a taxi but I was having one. The next day, the accused person came to me and told me to give him the car so that he can use it for taxi services. He said he was going to Banjul and I agreed and gave it to him. After four days, I didn’t hear from him. I and my friend then decided to go to Banjul to search for him but we could not find him.’’
He further testified that they lodged a criminal complaint at the Gunjur Police Station upon their return to Gunjur.
‘’Some time later, someone told me that the accused person [Amadou Jallow] was in Guinea Bissau. I went to one of the shopkeepers in Gunjur, who hailed from Guinea Bissau and explained the issue to him for help because I have never been to Bissau. We agreed that I would pay for his fish money for a week if he would accompany me to Bissau. I went with him together with my friend in search of the accused in Bissau,’’Touray adduced.
He stated that when they reached the Bissau border, they explained to the border security their reasons for coming there and gave details of the vehicle in question.
“The security personnel at the border confirmed that the name we mentioned had entered Bissau with the vehicle we are searching for. We could not find him in Bissau and weconsequently had to return,’’ added Touray.
The accused, Touray said, was arrested in Jarra Soma two months ago after he received a tip-off that he lived and owned a shop there.
The matter was adjourned to November 18th for continuation.