The fraud case between the state and some former Kanilai Farms Ltd. employees has taken another dimension. Bala Nyassi, ex Driver, has joined the list of several accused persons currently defending themselves against charges of embezzlement of Kanilai Farms funds by clerk or servant of the farm.

At the last hearing on the matter, Prosecutor 1748 Mballow called Mr Wullinding Sanneh, Pw2, also a driver with Kanilai Farms and believed to have been instrumental in Bala’s employment with the farm.

In his testimony Mr Sanneh, who is said to be the immediate boss of the accused, adduced that when the accused returned from his mission in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, he reported directly to him.

He testified that the accused twice encountered difficulties while executing his service. The first, he stated, was in Dakar when his vehicle crashed to the extent that he had to seek help from Dakar to winch it. He said that the second incident was about a reported attack by rebels who seized all his possession, including money.

Reacting to Mr Sanneh’s testimony, Mr Nyassi, the accused, refuted Mr Sanneh’s statement as false. He also denied ever having been dispossessed of any money by rebels. He countered that he in fact handed the money to PW2.

In his ruling the presiding magistrate ordered that one Ablie Kujabi appear before the court in the sitting slated for 26 March 2007, to also testify on the matter.