A magistrate’s court on Monday entered a not guilty plea on behalf of a man accused of defrauding 18 people of 2.8 million dalasis in a scheme that promised travel to Europe, after the defendant gave a qualified response to the charges.
The defendant, Almudou Maiga, was arraigned before Principal Magistrate M. Krubally on a single count of obtaining money by false pretenses. Prosecutors allege that in 2025 Mr. Maiga collected large sums from multiple individuals, claiming he would arrange their travel to Spain—a representation the state contends he knew to be untrue.
Among the complainants are Ismaila Krubally and Bakary Sanyang, along with more than a dozen others who, according to the prosecution, paid for opportunities abroad that never materialized.
When the charge sheet was read in English and translated into Wolof, a language Mr. Maiga said he understood, he did not enter a clear plea. “I agree with what is narrated, but I dispute the amount,” he told the court.
Citing the constitutional presumption of innocence, Magistrate Krubally ruled that the defendant’s statement did not amount to an unequivocal admission and entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. The decision places the burden on the prosecution to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The prosecutor, Superintendent L. Trawally, did not directly oppose bail but urged the court to weigh the seriousness of the allegations and Mr. Maiga’s status as a non-Gambian.
In response, Magistrate Krubally said nationality alone could not be grounds for denying bail, emphasizing that constitutional protections apply equally regardless of origin. While acknowledging the substantial amount allegedly involved, he said it did not override the defendant’s right to bail.
The court granted bail in the sum of 2.8 million dalasis. As conditions of release, Mr. Maiga must provide a surety who is gainfully employed or a business professional and who can pledge assets equivalent to the bail amount. The surety is also required to submit original identification, provide a verifiable address, and swear an affidavit of means, agreeing to forfeit the bond if the defendant fails to appear.
The case was adjourned to April 27, 2026, when hearings are expected to begin.
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