Micheal Rossel Van, a British National, who was facing charges for obtaining money by false pretence, from one Babucarr Deco of Bundung, with the pretext of securing a European Visa has run out of luck.

He was yesterday sentenced to a month in jail, with hard labour, by Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh of the Kanifing Magistrate’s Court.

Appearing before the court yesterday, shortly before the judgement was passed on him, Mr. Van, arrogantly told the court that he in fact owed Mr. Deco, but he is not guilty of the act.

He told the court that he is an agriculturist by profession, but because many young Gambians are in the dire need of Visa to travel to Europe for greener pastures, he decided to enter into the deal.

According to him, he had helped a lot of young Gambians, most of who secured jobs in a shipping company that exports fish to Europe.

Mr. Van had already spent four months at the State Central Prisons during the course of the trial, as no one came to bail him out. He had earlier insisted that the British Embassy should not be in the picture as he had never been involved in such activities. But, according to judicial officials, Mr Van is facing similar criminal charges at the Bundung Magistrate’s Court.