By Omar Bah
Police said they are investigating a false information case in the matter of one Muhammad Darboe, a Bissau Guinean following his false complaint that he was kidnapped and robbed by individuals in a taxi.
The Bissau Guinean on Thursday 29 April lodged a complaint to the police claiming that a taxi driver he hired at the Giboroh border post to the Banjul Airport, where he was to catch a flight, drove him to an unknown location around Kuloro quarry and violently robbed him of 1, 500, 000 CFA, his passport, Visa card, ID card, and a mobile phone.
He also alleged he sustained injuries as a result of the violent robbery.
But in a statement issued on Saturday, the police denied his story and further explained: “Preliminary investigations revealed, the complainant did not pass through any of the official borders in The Gambia as alleged. Also, investigators visited the alleged crime scene but no evidence linking to the crime was discovered. Curiously, even the flight manifest to Morocco found in his possession doesn’t even bear his name. Further investigations revealed that he actually stole money from his father in Guinea Bissau on the pretext of traveling to Europe through the back way. The stolen money has been entrusted to someone in The Gambia (name withheld). Police investigators are making efforts to recover the stolen money.
“The IGP’s office wishes to strongly advise the public to desist from spreading false information about imaginary crimes that never happened. Any individual found wanting of such will be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the laws. Similarly, online newspapers and bloggers are urged to verify facts relating to crimes in The Gambia and desist from spreading false information intended to cause panic and fear among the public. The cooperation and understanding of the public is highly solicited.”
