By: Dawda M. Jallow
Kaddy Touray, the first prosecution witness in obtaining money by false pretence case involving D88,000 Wednesday testified before Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.
Touray who is also the complainant in the case testified before presiding Magistrate Awa Manneh.
The accused, Essa, is charged with obtaining money by false pretence in connection with arrangements to facilitate the complainant’s younger brother’s journey to Europe through the backway route.
Led in evidence by Chief Inspector A. Bojang, Touray told the court that she knew the accused and recalled events dating back to August 2025.
According to her, she became concerned after not hearing from her brother for some time. When he eventually contacted her, he informed her that he was travelling and was then in Mali on his way to Algeria.
Touray told the court that her brother requested financial assistance after running out of money. She said she first sent him D25,000. Later, after he informed her that a driver had abandoned them in a bush area, she sent an additional D30,000.
She testified that her brother subsequently told her he would be staying with a friend in Algeria, whom he identified as the accused, Essa.
According to the witness, three days later the accused contacted her and confirmed that her brother had arrived in Algeria. She further testified that the accused later informed her that rebels had captured her brother and demanded D30,000 for his release.
“I sent the money through Orange Money Transfer,” she told the court, adding that the accused later informed her that her brother had been released.
Touray further testified that the accused later requested D150,000 as payment for a boat journey to Europe. She said she informed him that the amount was too expensive.
The witness told the court that between October and November 2025, the accused informed her that her brother and others were preparing to depart.
She said she subsequently raised D70,000, which was collected from her compound by a man identified as Bunja, whom the accused allegedly introduced as his brother. Before handing over the money, she said she conducted a video call with the accused to confirm Bunja’s identity.
Touray further testified that she later handed Bunja an additional D18,500 after her brother requested further financial assistance.
She told the court that when she later advised them to abandon the journey and return home, the accused assured her that the money she had previously given him was safe in his mother’s account. She said she then sent D20,000 to assist with their return journey and later provided a further D15,000 after being informed that the money had been exhausted.
The matter was adjourned to 22 July 2026 for continuation of the hearing.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offence occurred in August 2025 at Manjai Kunda in the Kanifing Municipality. Prosecutors allege that the accused, with intent to defraud, obtained D88,000 from Kaddy Touray on the representation that he would facilitate her younger brother’s travel to Europe through the backway route, a representation he allegedly knew to be false.
The accused has denied the charge. The case continues.
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