CID Inspector Lamin Danso has told the Special Criminal Court in Banjul, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Nkea that about 1,935 vehicle licenses and road tax disc, a photocopying machine, two printing machines and a numbering machine were recovered during the course of investigation into the economic crime case involving the state against Abdou Willian, Musa Jobe, Tida Badjie and Temple Godson.

Inspector Lamin Danso made these revelations yesterday, Thursday 22nd March 2012 in his evidence-in-chief before the Special Criminal Court in Banjul.

In his testimony,Danso disclosed that sometime in May 2011, one Lamin Jallow of New Jeshwang C/O View Printing Press was caught with IB ticket books of UTSCO bus company valued at D8, 000 at Buffer Zone in Tallinding, trying to sell them to one Ousman Darboe (a conductor at UTSCO Bus Company). He said that a case file was opened and forwarded to the CID for further investigation.

According to him, a panel of four officers was set up to investigate into the matter and whist the panel was investigating the matter, the suspect Lamin Jallow was escorted to his house, where a search was conducted and 1,935 vehicle licenses and road tax disc were found, 19 ticket books of Brikama Area Council, 427 printed Brikama Area Council Market tickets, 575 drug revolving fund tickets and 197 vaccination cards were also found.

When the said Lamin Jallow was asked how he came into the possession of the said items, he revealed that they were given to him by one Zainey Faal of Serrekunda for safekeeping. The said Zainey Faal was arrested and he confessed giving the vehicle license and road tax discs to Lamin Jallow for safekeeping, but had no idea about the Brikama Area Council market tickets, drug revolving fund tickets, and the vaccination cards.

During investigation, Zainey Faal was asked as to how he got the vehicle license and road tax disc, he confessed that it is a link between himself, Musa Jobe of GRA (Banjul Branch), Inspector Tida Badjie of Brikama Police License Office, Abdou William Gamstar Branch manager (Serrekunda) and Ousman Manjang, Gamstar agent at Serrekunda branch office.

Furthermore, the witness added that the said Zainey Faal was searched and three (3) extra vehicle license and road tax disc, a printing machine marked RISOGRAPH-TR 1510 with seven master films vehicle license and road tax disc in it, were found with him. According to him (the witness), Faal's workplace at Bakau Newtown was also searched and another printing machine marked RISO 200 EP, a desktop computer marked COMPAQ, scanning machine marked HP, and one master film of vehicle license and road tax disc were found.

The witness adduced that further investigation led to the arrest of one Ali Jobe of Latrikunda (a Senegalese) who did the serial numbering of the printed vehicle license and road tax disc. "The serial numbering machine marked HEIDEBELG was recovered at YAF Printing in Kanifing. The designer of the vehicle license and road tax disc, Temple Godson, a Nigerian was also arrested and he confessed that he designed the printed vehicle license and road tax disc," the witness told the court.

Inspector Lamin Danso however told the court that he recorded the cautionary statement of Musa Jobe in the presence of an independent witness. The said cautionary statement was however tendered and admitted as exhibit. The Special Criminal Court then moved to a store at the Attorney General's Chambers where certain items were kept and these include, two printing machines, a photocopying machine and the bundle of vehicle license and road tax disc (stickers). These items were inspected by the court and subsequently tendered and admitted as exhibits.

Meanwhile the court was informed that the numbering machine, which weighs more than two tons, could not be moved to the said location (store) at the AG Chambers. The presiding Judge, Justice Emmanuel Nkea however urged the prosecution led by DDPP S.H Barkun to endeavour to move the said numbering machine before the next adjourned date. Hearing continues on the 4th April 2012.

Meanwhile, the accused persons are charged with four counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, forgery of official document, having in possession implements for forgery and economic crimes contrary to the Laws of The Gambia.