Adama Bah, the divisional room manager of Kombo Beach Hotel, on Monday January 5 testified as a prosecution witness before the Kanifing Magistrates Court in the ongoing criminal case in which the operations manager of the said hotel, Marc Maurice Alfred Vanmaldegum, is the accused person.

Testifying before Senior Magistrate Sainabou Wadda Ceesay, Adama Bah informed the court that he lives in Manjai Kunda. Adama Bah further told the court that he knows the two prosecution witnesses who had earlier testified before the court, namely Adama Sarr and Haddy Ceesay.

He added that on 3rd September 2008, he was informed by Haddy Ceesay that Room 110 - occupied by Charles Northfield - had been vacant for three days. Adama Bah added that he then contacted the reception deck and spoke to one Essa Jobe, who informed him that Charles Northfield had gone fishing on 31st August 2008.

According to him, he then sent an email to the deputy general manager and general manager.  He added that the email was copied to the accused and Salam, the financial controller to inform them that the guest had not been sleeping in the room for three days.

He further went on to say that he was at the reception desk when the accused person came and asked for the key to Room 110.  According to him, when he ask the accused why he needed the key, then he responded that the was told by Charles Northfield – whom he said had called him - to take certain items from his room and give the rest to the staff of the hotel.

Adama Bah stated that the accused also told him that he had sent him (Adama) an email to that effect. He said he then handed the keys over to Marc.  According to him, when the accused returned from the room, he saw him with a laptop and DVD in his possession.  He noted that he then instructed that the room be placed out of bounds.

Lawyer Badou Conteh represented the accused.  Cadet Inspector Mballow stood in for the IGP.  The case continues today, January 6.