The High Court in Banjul heard detailed testimony from a real estate director in the drug and money-laundering trial involving Paolo Djabi, Nadine Ismael de Goubela Pereira, and Mamadou Neto Djabi.
Appearing before Justice Jaiteh, the eighth prosecution witness (PW8), Seena Shams, the Operations Director of Construct Limited, provided insight into property transactions and the involvement of a third-party real estate agency.
During his testimony, led by State Counsel S. L. Jobarteh, Mr Shams identified the first and second accused, Paolo Djabi and Nadine Pereira, in the courtroom. However, he stated he did not know the third accused, Mamadou Neto Djabi, noting it was his first time seeing him.
Mr Shams explained that his family-owned business, incorporated in 1991, has expanded into several subsidiaries, including Waterfront Fajara Ltd and Gem Waterfront Ltd. He detailed how the company’s relationship with the accused began through Mariama Kaira, owner of the agency Linkage Africa.
According to him, Ms Kaira, a collaborator for over a decade, introduced Paolo Djabi as a client. Mr Shams revealed that Ms Kaira had personally attempted to purchase several high-value units at Fajara Waterfront but later disclosed she had entered a “partnership arrangement” with Paulo Djabi after struggling to complete payments.
He told the court that the properties in question carried price tags as follows: Unit P7, valued at approximately $450,000, and Units A6G3 and A3G3, valued at approximately $300,000 each.
Mr Shams testified that while payments for Unit P7 were made via wire transfers from the United States and commissions, the payments for Units A6G3 and A3G3 were more complex.
He noted that deposits were made through various parties and money exchange services. Ms Kaira reportedly informed the company that Paulo Djabi was lending her funds and arranging deposits on her behalf to cover outstanding balances.
Despite the payments, Mr Shams emphasised that the transactions for two of the units remain incomplete and are now past their due dates.
The proceedings took a technical turn when Counsel Jobarteh sought to tender 3 documents into evidence, including invoices, balance statements, and unsigned sale agreements.
Defence Counsel S. M. Tambadou raised a firm objection to the admissibility of the unsigned sale agreements, arguing they were not properly executed and therefore lacked legal standing.
In a bench ruling, Justice Jaiteh overruled the defence’s objection, admitting the documents as exhibits P-30, P-31, and P-32. Justice Jaiteh clarified that while the documents are admitted, the defence maintains the right to challenge their authenticity and “evidential weight” during cross-examination.
“The defence remains entitled to challenge the authenticity, credibility, and weight of the documents during cross-examination and final submissions,” Justice Jaiteh stated.
The case adjourned to 20th January, 2026.
