By: Audrey Raymonda John
Idrissa Bindi staff of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) has dragged Bambay Thoronka an ally connecting to his driver Ibrahim Bah to court on an allegation of theft.
The accused in the above action was arrested and charged to court as a frequent caller connected to the crime.
In count one it was alleged that on Sunday 6th February 2023 at White Tank, Rokel Village, the accused conspired together with Ibrahim Bah and other people unknown to commit a felony to wit larceny.
In count two, the police alleged that the accused did counsel, procure and command the said Ibrahim Bah to commit larceny.
In count three, it was also alleged by the police that the accused received, comforted, harboured, assisted and maintained the said Ibrahim Bah.
Testifying before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No.1, the 37 years-old Idrissa Bindi working for the Open Society Initiative, for West Africa (OSIWA) residing at 172 Lahai Taylor Street, Off Wilkinson Road recognized the accused Ibrahim Bah. He said he knew him as a driver through one Alimamy Turay, a driver to his elder brother Mohamed Juanan.
The complainant said sometime in January 2023, he met with Alimamy Turay and requested for a driver who can drive the manual vehicle given to him by the office. He said it was based on that the accused was brought to him by Alimamy Turay.
Explaining further, the complainant said the accused started working on the 22nd of February 2023 and he introduced him to his family and he has been paying him the sum of one hundred new Leones on daily bases because he was on probation.
The complainant further narrated that he has been testing the accused fairly by going with him to family functions and paying him what he was supposed to receive on a monthly basis. He said a few months later the accused began to make a change by parking his vehicle at a distance.
The complainant said at first, he thought it was just the distance that makes him park the vehicle out of the gate, but when he and his sister go closer to the vehicle, they discovered that the accused was nowhere to be seen.
He said he immediately checked for his money but to no avail, complainant said he and his sister went in search of the accused but to no avail.
The complainant said that in total the accused stole the sum of one hundred and thirty-seven thousand, five hundred new Leones (Le 137, 500,00). He said he went and reported the matter to the police at Rokel.
The complainant said he later went to the Cyber office at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters with his brother Alimamy Turay to track the call log of the accused and one Bambay Thoronka was arrested as a frequent caller.
According to the police, Bambay Thoronka was arrested and they were able to get vital information that proved that he was part of the crime.
In the police file, the statement of Alimamy Turay and Bambay Thoronka was attached to the police charge sheet.
Shortly after the matter was mentioned yesterday, the accused who was on bail was absent which leaves the Bench with no option but to adjourn the matter to the 2nd of March 2023.