Manjang Cham sitting next to a police officer at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court
Manjang Cham appeared before the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to answer to 23 criminal counts alleging he defrauded victims of over three million Dalasis in an elaborate visa scheme.
The accused stood before Magistrate A. Manneh charged with obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 265 of the Criminal Offences Act 2025. Cham, who was not represented by counsel, entered a not guilty plea to all charges.
Assistant Commissioner A. Manga, leading the prosecution, presented what authorities describe as a systematic fraud operation targeting individuals seeking to travel abroad. According to the indictment, Cham allegedly promised to secure Canadian and Spanish visas for his victims between September 2023 and 2025.
The prosecution alleges that Cham primarily lured victims with promises of obtaining Canadian visas to attend the “Junkanoo Cultural Festival,” while others were promised Spanish visas. The alleged fraudulent scheme affected 23 complainants, with individual amounts ranging from D11,500 to D600,000.
The largest single amount allegedly involved Lamin Dibba (Count 1), who reportedly paid D600,000 for four Canadian visas for the cultural festival in 2024. Mamjarra Jammeh (Count 18) allegedly paid D526,000 for a similar promise.
Other substantial amounts include D350,000 from Ba Lamin Jabbi (Count 3), D270,000 from Abdou Badjie (Count 23), and D263,000 each from Mustapha Jarjusey (Count 12) and Binta Darboe (Count 17), all allegedly for Canadian visas to the Junkanoo Cultural Festival.
Several complainants reportedly paid D100,000 or more, including Yusupha Sanyang (D250,000), Haddy Comma (D165,000), Mariama Kanyi and Alagie Lamin Cham (D125,000 each), and multiple individuals who paid D100,000 for promised visas.
Smaller amounts allegedly obtained include D89,000 from Alagie Pateh Mbaye, D80,000 from Saffiatou Hydara, D75,000 from Mustapha Secka, and D70,000 from Kajally Hydara.
The indictment also includes allegations of obtaining D25,000 each from Lamin Kujabi and Lamin Saho, D22,000 each from Dembo Jatta and Momodou Jatta, and D11,500 from Talbia Jatta, the smallest amount in the case.
Following Cham’s not guilty plea to all counts, Assistant Commissioner Manga requested an adjournment to arrange for witnesses to testify. While deferring to the court on bail, the prosecutor highlighted that the alleged fraud exceeded D3 million Dalasis.
Magistrate Manneh granted bail under stringent conditions. The bail amount was set at D4.2 million, requiring security in the form of a title deed registered in the name of the accused or a guarantor.
Additionally, the court ordered Cham to deposit his original identification documents with the court and surrender his passport to the court registrar.
The case has been adjourned to January 22, 2026, at 12:00 PM for trial.
Comments are closed.