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Gambia: Police Officer Alleges Faked Notes

A police officer, Mr. Nfansu Saho attached to Yundum Police Station, said while on duty on 22nd January 2005, one Abubakarr Sowa, a Ghanaian was arrested with faked notes of Gambian currency at Busumballa and was brought to his office for investigation.

During the course of the investigation, the witness said, information was given by the said Ghanaian which led to the location of the accused person. The witness said at the same time he was working at the Ministry of Finance.

The witness stated that the accused person was arrested at the coastal road and the faked Gambian notes were found in his vehicle. At the Yundum Police Station, noted the witness, a search was conducted on the accused and faked notes were found in his possession. The alleged faked notes, according to the witness were sent to the police headquarters. The denomination of the faked Gambian notes, stated the witness, was a hundred dalasi note (D100) with serial number 281978 and thirty five (35) notes in D50 denominations.

Testifying further, the witness, also stated that faked 54 notes in D50 denominations were seized. The alleged faked notes which were identified by the witness were tendered in court and marked collectively as exhibits. The said D100 (one hundred dalasi) according to the prosecutor was earlier on tendered in court before a different magistrate. The statement of the accused, according to the witness was obtained in the presence of an independent witness. The said statement, noted the witness was signed by both the accused person and the independent witness.

The said statement was also tendered in court and marked as an exhibit. During cross examination, by the defence counsel, lawyer Darboe, the witness was demanded to show his finger rings to the court, which the witness did.

The witness also told the court, that an amount of 54 (fifty four) in fifty dalasi (D50) denominations were found in the possession of the said Abubakarr Sowa in his house.

Mr. Nfamara Bojang, the accused, has pleaded not guilty to two criminal charges. On count one, the accused has pleaded not guilty to two criminal charges. On count one, Mr. Bojang is charged with conspiracy to commit felong in the month of January 2005 at Busumballa village, and on count two, he is charged with being in possession of faked Gambian currency notes. The trial was adjourned to Tuesday 17th April for the continuation of the cross examination of the first witness.