By Kemeseng Sanneh (Kexx)
Bakary Drammeh, a policeman working at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Manjai Police Station continued with giving evidence in the economic crimes case against businessman, Alhajie Kebbeh.
The State pressed economic crimes charges against Alhajie Kebbeh for allegedly receiving the sum of Sixty-Four Million and Eighty Thousand Dalasi (D64,080,000) from 39 vendors in 2020 and 2021 for the supply of Fifty-Eight Thousand and Five Hundred (58,500) bags of 50 kilogram rice to the Government.
It is alleged that only Seventeen Thousand and Ninety-Six (17,096) bags were delivered, while the remaining Forty-One Thousand, Four Hundred and Four (41,404) bags were intentionally withheld.
The written statement of the accused person (Alhajie Kebbeh) was tendered through the witness. It was admitted in evidence.
Under cross-examination, the witness said there was no independent witness present at the time of taking the statement of the accused person. Under the Evidence Act, the rules of recording statements require the presence of an independent witness when taking voluntary statements from suspects or detainees.
The case was adjourned to the 6th of May 2024 at 12 pm.