Man Docked for Obtaining Thousands from Youths on ‘Backway’ Journey Promise

By: Kemo Kanyi

A Brikama Nyambai resident Abdoulie Ceesay was on Wednesday arraigned at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court for allegedly receiving money from a group of youths on the pretext of facilitating a European journey for them through the Backway.

Prosecutors have charged Ceesay with the alleged offense of obtaining money by pretenses.

Court documents showed that the accused received thousands of Dalasi from seven youths on the pretext of facilitating their journey to Spain.

He allegedly obtained the money at Brikama Nyambaion 23 October 2023. The court heard that Ceesay at the same place and on the same date obtained D45,000from Mustapha Sarjo, D55,000 from Alieu Sabally,D40,000 from Muhammed Lamin Jawneh, D40,000 from Bubacarr Manga, D40,000 from
Famara Sanneh, D100,000 from Samba Kandeh andD50,000 from
Kawsu Sanneh. Prosecutors alleged that Ceesay obtained D385,000 from the seven youths on the pretext of taking them to Spain irregularly, a representation, the prosecutors said, was false and done to defraud.

Ceesay pleaded not guilty when the chargesheet was read and interpreted to him.

At this juncture, Inspector Kemo Y. Manneh, representing the Inspector General of Police, applied for an adjournment to enable him to bring his first witness for the trial. This was granted and the matter was adjourned to 4 January 2024.

However, to enable Ceesay to gain his liberty as the trial begins early next year, Principal Magistrate Anna O. Mendy granted him bail in the sum of D500,000 and as part of the bail requirements, he must provide three sureties of Gambian nationality.