Man charged for stealing items worth D110,000

One Karamba Gassama of Sanchaba Sule Jobe was on Tuesday, 10 June appeared before the Senior Magistrate Kumba Sillah-Camara of the Bundung Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stolen of aluminum box worth D35,000 and one boat engine cost D75,000 all amounted to the sum of D110,000 being the properties of Lamin Jobe of Sanchaba Sule Jobe in Bakoteh.

When the charged sheet was read the accused pleaded not guilty of offend preferred against him.

According to the complainant, Lamin Jobe, who is a businessman that engages in import and export of merchandise principally based in Guinea Bissau , has said that on 12 March 2008 he called his wife from Guinea Bissau and told her that he will come to pick his engine in the Gambia on 13th of March 2008. But when he arrived at the scheduled date he was told that aluminum box and the boat engine were stolen.

"He (Karamba) is my prime suspect," Lamin Jobe told the court when he was asked who did he suspect and why did he suspect him. He quickly added that he was informed by the old man (his watchman) who caught him red-handed.

But Karamba Gassama, the accused person who has no defense counsel was given an opportunity by the Magistrate to ask or react to what the complainant have said. The accused who act like moron asked "I want to know why you suspected me." While Lamin Jobe answered that "I suspected you because the person who helped you to take them out told me."

At this juncture the Magistrate said the person who assisted him to take them out also "is a suspect too." And the complainant said it is the watchman, but he did (help him) because he has considered Karamba Gassama as part of the family as he eat, dine, wine and sleep in the compound many times.

The case was therefore adjourned to 30 June 2008 for PW to testify. Inspector Touray represented the IGP.