Sulayman Gaye, a police officer sub-inspector on Tuesday January 6, testified as a prosecution witness before the Kanifing Magistrates Court in the ongoing criminal case in which the operations manager of Kombo Beach Hotel, Marc Maurice Alfred vanmaldegum is the accused person.

Testifying before Senior Magistrate Sainabou Wadda-Ceesay, Sulayman Gaye informed the court that he lives in Tallinding. He added that he is a police officer of the rank of sub-inspector attached to the Interpol. According to him, they received a tip of that the accused (Marc) had played a role in the affairs of Charles Andrew Northfield, an accused person who was undergoing trial at the High Court but fleed to the United Kingdom.

Sulayman Gaye went on to say that on October 13, 2008, he went with another officer to visit Marc at his work place at Kombo Beach Hotel. According to him, they met the accused and invited him to Kuto Police Station for questioning. He told the court that during the investigation, Marc told the investigative panel that he came to know Charles Andrew Northfield whilst Northfield was a guest in his hotel. He added that Marc told them that he met Charles on two occasion at the hotel’s bar where they had drinks and chatted.

Sulayman Gaye further explained that Marc informed the panel that during his discussions with Charles, he told him (Marc) that he was undergoing trial at the High Court and was unable to leave the jurisdiction until the trial ended. According to him, Marc told the panel that he received a phone call from Charles when Charles arrived in the UK requesting him (Marc) to go to his room (110) in the hotel and collect some personel items including car keys.

According to him, Marc told them that he then took the key from the reception and later made a phone call to Charles in UK about the secret code of the safe. Sulayman Secka said Marc was then escorted to his work place were items such as car keys, whiskey bottles and other items were handed to the police.

He added that a cautionary statement in front of officers with an independent witness was obtained from him. At that juncture, the police prosecutor, Cadet Inspector Mballow showed him the cautionary statement and the items. He confirmed them and they were tendered in court as exhibits. The case continues on January 7.