Prosecution Addresses Court

The Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, presided over by Principal Magistrate Moses Richards, yesterday heard the address of the prosecution represented by Sergeant 489 Jahateh. The prosecution accused Mr. Alieu Faye, former accountant to Stop Step Pharmaceutical and Laboratory enterprise of stealing D547, 547 by servant or clerk for the afore-mentioned firm.

Addressing the court, the prosecutor pointed out that when the charges were read to the accused person, he pleaded not guilty. Prosecutor Jahateh adduced that it thus became the duty of the prosecution to prove its case against the accused, noting that they had to that effect called witnesses to give evidence in support of the case against the accused.

He further recollected that PW1, Mary Shalloop, has testified that she had given a cheque for D547, 547 to the accused for him to cash from the Trust Bank Bakau branch to enable her pay the April 2007 salaries of her staff.

In addition, Prosecutor Jahateh continued, PW1 further testified that she had asked one Njaga to accompany the accused because of the accused’s previous record of shortages and carelessness with money. He further quoted PW1 as having stated that Mr. Faye cashed the said cheque only to later claim that the money had been stolen from his car while he was collecting a pro forma invoice at Old Jeshwang. Prosecutor Jahateh explained that subsequent witnesses corroborated PW1’s testimony.

Jahateh added that the prosecution also called an employee of the Standard Chartered Bank, PW4, who identified the accused as a former staff in a metal work company as an accountant, noting that PW5 also identified the accused as the one who cashed a stolen cheque from his employer. He recalled that PW5 even exposed the accused’s previous involvement in a similar case.

Responding to the issue of jurisdiction raised by the defence counsel, Prosecutor Jahateh argued that the subsidiary court has the mandate to entertain this case based on the amendment to the laws of the country governing the magistrates’ courts.

Prosecutor Jahateh further asserted that stealing is criminal and that anybody who committed it was liable for criminal prosecution.

He pointed out that criminal cases are purely handled by the state. The case was at that point adjourned to 6th of September for defence to respond on points of law.