“Would it be correct to say that your investigation was flawed because you have given many figures in exhibit A (investigation report)?” Moses Richard said. Replying, ASP Ceesay said: “Our investigations were not flawed. The initial figure was what was brought before the court and the subsequent figure was what our investigations revealed,” adding that the probe took about four weeks.
“You are being evasive,“ Richards said when ASP Ceesay said he could not tell how much time he had spent on the ground at CFAO to do the investigation on the alleged fraud allegations. However ASP Ceesay in his replied said, “I’m not being evasive. I just cannot remember.”
Ms Jallow and Mr Baboucarr Gai are on trial at the Banjul Magistrates Court. They were arraigned on August 11 on three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud, stealing by clerk and theft. On the first count, they are accused of stealing D4,288,688 from CFAO Motors, Gambia Limited. On count two, Binta Jallow is accused of stealing D5,621,625 and on count 3, Mr Gai is accused of stealing D4,288,688 belonging to CFAO being monies transferred to his account for the purpose of purchasing hard currency. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
When the lawyer told him that the alleged sum cannot be ascertained, the ASP Ceesay said, “That is what our investigation has revealed.”
“I’m putting it to you that you did not have systematic methodology in place that is why your investigation cannot come out with anything that the court can believe,” Richards said but ASP Ceesay said his investigations were thorough.
Still under cross-examination, the witness told the court that the act committed by Ms Jallow was discovered by the chief account of CFAO after Lawyer Richards told him: “It is true nobody working at CFAO you interrogated told you that the first accused stole anything except Mr Muhammed Mbaye.” But when ASP Ceesay was asked to show the court from his investigation report where it is stated by the chief account that first accused stole money, he said, “No, it is not in the report”. The case resumes today for continuation of cross-examination.
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