Trial of Niamina West NAM & Co resumes

By Baba Sillah The trial of Demba Sowe, the National Assembly Member of the GDC in Niamina West, and four others proceeded yesterday before Justice BA Bakre of the High Court. Mr Sowe is being tried along with Oumie Saffiatou Jallow, Ebrima Kebbeh, Sheikh Dawda York, Alpha Kanteh and Kemo Fatty. They are alleged to have conspired to deceive Muhammed Tunkara, a Gambian based in the UK and his partner by collecting the sum of US$161,000 equivalent to D6, 273, 000 on the pretext that they were going to sell 50kg of gold valued at US1.5 million. They all denied the charges. Yesterday’s sitting started with cross-examination of prosecution witness, Muhammed Tunkara by Ebrima Kebbeh, one of the accused. Tunkara told the court that he has paid his tax but the documents given to him by Mr Kebbeh were not authentic and were intercepted at Casablanca, which led him to miss his flight. Mr Tunkara further told the court that after signing the contract agreement, he paid 6% for the cost of the transportation of his goods, noting that he never went with Oumie Saffiatou Jallow to the office of Mr Kebbeh. The trial continues.]]>