An immigration officer who posed as a “semester” has been ordered to refund D90,000 to a woman he married under false pretenses.
The woman, Haddy Ceesay, told What’s On-Gambia that her brief marriage to Lamin Manneh ended just days after their first sexual encounter.
According to her, Lamin claimed to be based in the Netherlands and said he owned properties in Tanji, Fajara, and Old Yundum. He promised to give her the Tanji house and a brand-new car.
In preparation for the wedding, Lamin persuaded Haddy to borrow money to cover the expenses. He did not attend the wedding ceremony, allegedly to avoid alerting his Dutch wife.
Despite his absence, Haddy proceeded with the event, inviting family and friends.
Two days later, they consummated the marriage at her family home in Faji Kunda. But after that, Lamin vanished without a trace.
Concerned and heartbroken, Haddy began investigating. She discovered he was not a semester, and even more shockingly, she was reportedly the ninth woman he had married and abandoned.
“He took me to marabouts, and I don’t even know how I believed everything he said,” Haddy shared.
She reported the matter to Bundung Police Station. Lamin was called in for questioning and has since been asked to reimburse the D90,000 spent on the wedding and related expenses.