Lawyer Mendy, counsel for Dawda Bojang, the 1st accused person in the murder case of a Briton, on 17th April, 2007 revealed before magistrate Buba Jawo of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court that a D10, 000 exhibits had disappeared from the court.
The defence counsel added that she was informed that the said D10, 000 was stolen by the former registrar, Mr. Kijera, who wrote to the court to say that he would refund the money. She said following her enquiries, she gathered that Mr. Kijera had written from Freetown.

The question of the missing D10, 000 exhibit came up when the 1st accused’s witness, Ansumana Bojang, could not identify the money because it was nowhere to be found.

In his testimony, he told the court that he lives with his wife, uncle and other members of his family. He said he does not know the late Ron Ford, the British who was allegedly murdered by Dawda Bojang and Kawsu Colley, 1st and 2nd accused persons respectively. He said he knew the second accused from the time he visited the 1st accused, who happens to be his younger brother, in remand. He said he brought the 1st accused up and that the 1st accused does not have the heart to hurt anybody any body much less kill. He added that from what he knew about the murder of the 1st accused, she could not have accepted the D10, 000 from the 1st accused, noting that the money belonged to the 1st accused’s mother who has a shop where she sells different items.

Still testifying, he said Pateh Bah and Musa Mboob came and picked him from Kerr Serign. He said they told him to accompany them to his mother for them to collect the D10, 000. He said Pateh Bah and Musa Mboob told him that if his mother gave them the D10, 000, they would drop the case.

He said he then accompanied them to his mother and that upon reaching there his mother called for the Alkalo and some elders and told them that the Dawda Bojang was being accused of murder.

He added that his mother told the Alkalo and the elders in tears that she would give out the money because the freedom of her son was more important than the money. He said the Alkalo advised her not to cry since she called them to be her witnesses. He said the Alkalo then told his mother to give out the money to Musa Mboob and Pateh Bah, which she did only to find out that she was in for disappointment as they did not do as they promised.

Magistrate Jawo at length called the current registrar, Mr. Sambou, to shed light on the missing money. Mr. Sambou said he is aware of the fact that the D10, 000 exhibits was not in his custody and that he was not too sure whether the said exhibit was in connection with the case.

He further told the court that he did not have the D10, 000 exhibits with him.