Business Tycoon Testifies against Banker

By Abdoulie Nget

PHB Bank

Mr Bacamara Sumbundu, a local businessman on Friday testified at the magistrates’ court in Kanifing in the criminal case involving a banker whose name and that of his bank is withheld for his personal security.

The banker alleged to have falsely obtained over six million dalasis from Mr Bacamara Sumbundu in January 2010, but he pleaded not guilty.

The business tycoon, however, testified that the banker took money from him to issue a bank guarantee for him, which he never did.

He said, when he informed the banker’s employer about the problem, a meeting was convened at the bank in the presence of two of his witnesses: Malick Secka and Demba Baldeh. The managing director of the bank was also present, he said.

“I then explained how the accused obtained money from me,” he added, “and I was told to give them sometime to consult the accused person as to why he received the money from me, which I agreed.”

According to the witness, the accused had accepted that he took the money from him and asked for patience inorder to pay it back.

“But there were lots of broken promises regarding this issue and then I decided to report him to Banjul police station,” he added.

He went further to testify that the accused had offered a plot of land for him to buy at a tune of D700, 000.00, but his money was never refunded to him.

During cross-examination by the counsel of the accused, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, the businessman identified one Isatou Jeng as his business partner through whom he supposed to pay money to the banker.

Mr. Sambundu, further said that he started doing business at an early age as his father was a business man too.

“I was importing goods to the Gambia, but I was not banking with any of the banks,” he added.

When asked if he carries money to do his purchases, Mr. Sumundu, said yes he does exactly that and he usually buy goods worth of $50,000.00 to $40,000.00 in each business trip.

Among that banks he is currently banking with are Arab Islamic Bank of The Gambia (AGIB), Access Bank, Trust Bank and Sky Bank.

At this juncture, the presiding Magistrate Dawda Jallow said: “To avoid surprise to both sides, the case might be transferred to another Magistrate.”

The case is adjourned to Monday 19^th September, 2011.