Mr. Ensa Badjie, alias Jesus, the ex-Criminal Management police commissioner, now Commissioner of Police for Western Region, yesterday appeared before Principal Magistrate Moses Richard of the Kanifing Court as prosecution witness, in a criminal case brought against one Alieu Faye. Mr. Faye was the former accountant of Stop Step medical laboratories and pharmaceutical company.

In his testimony Mr. Badjie said that he was the then Officer Commanding the criminal unit at the KMC division of Kairaba Police. He added that among his duties was policing, investigating and coordinating within KMC.

Mr. Badjie recalled that on 2nd May 2007 he received a phone call from one Emmanuel, believed to be the husband of the complainant, Mrs. Anna Mary Shollop. He said that Emmanuel had reported that his wife had given two cheques worth D610,000 to her accountant to cash from Trust Bank, Bakau branch, but that the accountant surprisingly said that the money went missing near Jaafar shop, a Lebanese shop at Old Jeshwang. He further adduced that he immediately asked Emmanuel to meet him at Kairaba police and that upon Emmanuel’s arrival they left for the scene of the alleged crime. Mr. Badjie testified that he requested for reinforcement from Serrekunda police. According to him when they come to Julbrew factory, they parked off the road just before two vehicles pulled off behind them, coinciding with the arrival of criminal investigation officers from Serrekunda.

Mr. Badjie further testified that at that juncture he ordered that both of them, including the suspect, Mr Faye, return to the scene at Jaafar shop. He informed the court that the suspect told him that he went for an invoice of D547,547 at Jaafar, but that on returning to his car which he had left locked, he could not find the money that was left inside it. Mr. Badjie stated that he then challenged the suspect that given the very short distance from the car to the shop, it was impossible for somebody to tamper with the car.

Mr. Badjie added that after thorough inspection showed no breaking-in signs on the car he ordered for the suspect’s arrest and for a case file to be opened for further investigation.

The case was at that point adjourned to 26 June 2007 for continuation of the prosecution case.

The IGP was represented by Sergeant 489 Jahateh.