One Alfred Davies, a Sierra Leonean, was Monday arraigned before Principal Magistrate Taiwo Ade Alagbe of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, charged with one count of criminal offence of obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to the Laws of The Gambia.

The particulars of the offence revealed that the accused in the year 2011 in the Kanifing Municipality, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of US$ 78,000 and D264, 650 from one Alhaji Tarika Kabba, with the pretext of selling a diamond stone to him, knowing that it is false, thereby committed an offence.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and the police prosecutor, Corporal Badjie applied for the case to be adjourned for him to call his witnesses.

The defence counsel for the accused person, Lawyer Ouzuma, applied for the court to grant his client bail, stating that the offence is bailable and the accused is a respectable teacher in the country. The court granted the accused bail in the equivalent sum of US$78,000 in Dalasi plus D264, 650 with two Gambian sureties, one of whom should deposit a title deed with the court’s registry.

The case was adjourned to 19th March 2012, for hearing.