By: Isatou Sarr
Brikama Magistrates’ Court has ordered prison authorities to produce an accused person currently in custody in a separate civil matter, as proceedings continue in a multi-count fraud case involving two men.
The order was made on Thursday, 23 April 2026, by Magistrate Kanjura B. Sambou of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court in the case of Lamin Darboe and Mass Dembelly, who were jointly charged with ten counts involving ten different complainants.
When the case was called, the first accused, Lamin Darboe, was absent. Prosecutor Sergeant 4422 M.J. Sallah, appearing with Cadet ASP F. Bojang and Sergeant 7232 E. Fofana for the Inspector General of Police, informed the court that Darboe was currently detained at Mile 2 Central Prison on a civil matter.
The prosecution applied for the second accused, Mass Dembelly, to take his plea, noting that plea-taking is personal. The court granted the request.
The prosecution further applied for an order directing the Director of Prisons to escort Darboe to court on the next adjourned date and subsequent hearings.
Magistrate Sambou granted the application and ordered that Darboe be produced before the court for all future proceedings.
The charges were then read to Dembelly, who faces ten counts of obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 265 of the Criminal Offences Act 2025.
According to the particulars, Dembelly allegedly obtained a total of D125,000 from multiple complainants between 2023 and 2024 at Jambanjelly and other locations in the West Coast Region.
The prosecution alleges that he falsely claimed to be selling a 20 by 20 metre plot of land in Jambanjelly, a representation he knew to be false.
The complainants in the matter are: Mariama Ndow, Alieu Sanneh, Sannehba Demba, Fatou Lowe, Hincha Boye, Janet Gardner, Adama Camara, Bubacarr B. Kanteh, Muhamed Sam and Lamin Fofana. Dembelly denied all ten counts.
Although witnesses were present in court, the prosecution applied for an adjournment to allow the first accused to appear before the court.
The case was adjourned to 7 May 2026, with the accused remanded at Mile 2 Central Prison.
