Mr Bangally Konteh, a Malian national, alongside Momodou Kujabi, Tunkary Sanneh, Alasana Krubally and Assan Jobe, all Gambians, yesterday pleaded not guilty to three charges of burglary, theft and conspiracy to commit felony.

The alleged offences are contrary to the Criminal Code, Laws of The Gambia.

The five men were arraigned before the senior magistrate, Kayode Olajubutu of the Banjul Magistrates Court.

According to the prosecution, the five men, on 28th June 2008, in Banjul, jointly and unlawfully conspired to commit felony. On count two, they broke into Sonatex Enterprises Store at the NTC Complex, with the intention to commit felony. Count three states that the men jointly stole from the Sonatex Enterprises Store 71 bales of fancy clothes and 43 bales of embroidery valued at D1.3 million, being the property of Sonatex Enterprises.

In yesterday's proceeding, the first prosecution witness, First Class 2384 Mbake, gave evidence against the accused persons. 2384 Mbake said he was on duty at the police station on June 28, when they received information about an alleged theft at the NTC Enterprises. He said upon their arrival at the scene, they found a yellow taxi (registration BJL 8203C) loaded with 71 bales of wax clothes.

"The investigation led us to find a number of clothes both inside and outside the NTC premises. The watchmen on duty were asked about what happened before they were subsequently arrested," he told the court.

At the court, Mbake later identified the stolen merchandises, which were displayed in the courtroom.

The case continues today. ASP Keita of the Banjul Police Prosecution Unit represented the IGP.