By Sainabou Sambou
The High Court in Banjul, presided over by Justice Omar Cham, heard compelling testimony on Monday in the ongoing trial of Seedy Faal, who stands accused of robbing businessman Mahmoud Jallow of millions in cash and valuables. The prosecution’s second witness, Cherno Farja Sowe, a 29-year-old manager at his father’s foreign exchange bureau, provided key details about his business dealings with Jallow and the events surrounding the alleged robbery.
Sowe, testifying under examination by State Counsel F. Njie, described Jallow as a “trustworthy and hardworking person” with whom he had a long-standing business relationship. He explained that Jallow frequently collected large sums of CFA (West African Franc) from the bureau, converting it to Gambian dalasi and returning the equivalent later the same day, typically between 4 and 5 p.m. On September 27, 2024, the day of the alleged robbery, Sowe handed Jallow 6,780,000 CFA, equivalent to D778,540. However, Jallow did not return the dalasi as expected.
“He didn’t return the money that day, but it has happened before that he brings it the following morning,” Sowe told the court, emphasizing his trust in Jallow. Later, Jallow informed Sowe that he had been attacked and robbed of the money, along with other valuables, and had reported the incident to the police. Sowe was subsequently called to the Banjul Police Station, where he provided a statement, which he confirmed in court as accurate, identifying it by his handwriting and signature.
During a tense cross-examination, Defense Counsel Ade challenged Sowe’s characterization of Jallow as trustworthy, noting that this detail was absent from his police statement. Sowe countered, “I did say that we’ve been working together for a long time, and giving him that amount of money shows I trusted him.” Reading from his statement, Sowe reiterated, “We have been working with him for a while now,” underscoring that his trust in Jallow prevented immediate concern when the money was not returned.
Counsel Ade pressed further, questioning whether Sowe had ever met the accused, Seedy Faal, before the trial. “No, today is my first time seeing him,” Sowe replied. The defense then suggested that Jallow may have lied about not recognizing the attacker, to which Sowe firmly responded, “No, I don’t believe he would lie to me.” However, Sowe revealed a potential inconsistency, stating that Jallow had told him he recognized the person who attacked him, contradicting Jallow’s earlier testimony that the area was too dark to identify the assailant.
State Counsel M.B. Mballow objected to some of the defense’s questions, arguing they were opinion-based and unfair. Justice Cham, however, allowed the cross-examination to proceed, citing the relevance of Sowe’s relationship with Jallow to the case.
The charges against Faal, filed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on April 11, 2025, accuse him of robbery under Section 272 of the Criminal Code, punishable under Section 273. The indictment alleges that on or about September 27, 2024, in Banjul, Faal robbed Jallow of D350,000, 13,000,000 CFA, USD 2,195, 170 Euros, and a Samsung Android phone.
State Counsels F. Njie and M.B. Mballow represent the prosecution, while Counsel Ade and Counsel Francis C. Anyaniou appear for the defense. The trial, which has drawn attention due to the significant sums and questions surrounding Jallow’s account, is set to continue tomorrow with further hearings.
As the case unfolds, the court focuses on unraveling the circumstances of the alleged robbery and determining Faal’s culpability in this high-stakes legal battle.
