By: IsatouSarr
Trial began on Tuesday in the alleged visa scam case brought against one Gibril Krubally.
Testifying before the Brikama Magistrates’ Court, Brusubi resident Gabou Mendyadduced that he paid money to Gibril to secure him and two of his friends a New Zealand visa for him and two of his friends.
Gabou testified that the accused last year told him and his brother Edward Manga that he had a link through which he could process a New Zealand visa.
‘’We discussed and agreed at D150,000.00 per person for the visas. Before paying the money, I informed one of my friends NjagaNjie, who expressed interest and paid for himself and his brother. I made an advance payment of D40,000.00 for the three of us at the accused person’s shop in BrikamaWellingara,’’ testified Gabou.
He explained that he told the accused that ‘’I don’t joke with my money” but he promised to refund the money if the transactions were not successful. He continued:“After three weeks,he brought us electronic visas and we paid the remaining money. He asked for and collected from us an additional sum of D96,400 for our flight tickets. He went on to set a date for our travel but later told us that the flight tickets had changed. He asked us to give him a week and as the date drew near, the accused called us to his shop and informed us about the route for the trip. The accused told us that we would be traveling via Nigeria to so many countries before arriving in New Zealand.”
Gabou told the court that his friend told him that he did not trust the accused because he had never seen such a journey before. He saidthey decided to proceed with their travel plans, notwithstanding.
‘’It was during our departure that we found out that the visas and the tickets were all fake. I called and informed him. He promised to pay back our money but failed to do so,’’ Gabouexplained.
The case, presided over by Magistrate K.B Sambou, continues.
