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Cleaning up our streets, parks

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:50:00 GMT

Friday, November 28, 2008

ITS two days to go to Trash Busters, our latest campaign to clean up the streets and parks in our cities. Already the Dispatch has been hitting hotspots in Buffalo City Municipality where readers have highlighted some of the worst cases of illegal dumping and littering. On Monday we publish the first in a series of stories which we hope will help to make people aware of the need to dispose of their rubbish responsibly. We will also be working closely with local authorities, urging them to do...

Source: http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=275344

CONGO: Financial crisis threatens timber jobs

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:43:25 GMT

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

BRAZZAVILLE Tuesday, November 25, 2008 (IRIN) - Guy-Blaise Bakala, a timber worker in Pointe-Noire in the south of the Republic of Congo, has been sleeping badly since his bosses first announced they would have to let some workers go because the financial crisis is hitting the key timber sector."Every single day, our bosses tell us that we are not sheltered from unemployment because of what the company is going through," said the 39-year-old, who is married with four children.Bakala fears what...

Source: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=81650

Man Arraigned for Robbery

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:35:19 GMT

Monday, November 03, 2008

One Ismaila Ngum was on 31stOctober 2008, arraigned before Magistrate Sainabou Wadda-Ceesay of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court for robbery.

Another accused person, Lawran Forster , who was at large, was also charged with the same offence.

According to the charge sheet, the accused persons on 19thMarch 2008 at Churchill’s Town jointly robbed one William James of his mobile phone valued at D2500 and cash of D500. The accused Ismaila Ngum pleaded not guilty.

Police prosecutor Sgt 870 Touray applied to the court not to grant the accused person bail, his application was granted and the accused was remanded in custody until 11thNovember 2008.

In another development on the same day, the accused Ismaila Ngum was for the second time arraigned before the same Magistrate Sainabou Wadda-Ceesay for assault.

The alleged offence revealed that on 29thOctober 2008, at Handover the accused unlawfully assaulted Inspector Kalilu Sanneh by hitting him with a cutlass on his hand, thereby causing him injury. He was also alleged to have been going armed in public. He denied the charges.

He was as well remanded in his case too.

Author: Dawda Faye

Cruel father sentenced

Wed, 07 May 2008 05:57:51 GMT

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Senior Magistrate EF M’Bai of the Brikama Magistrates Court on Monday sentenced one Musa Sanyang, a native of Lamin Village, for unlawfully hitting his seven-year old son with a stick on the head, to a jail term of nine months with hard labour.

Narrating the facts before the court, police prosecutor, Cpl 413 Sanyang, said on the 15 of April 2008, the victim (name withheld) was playing with his friend at home when they cut some mango fruits from a tree in the compound. According to the police prosecutor, when Musa saw them, he ran after them.

The prosecutor noted that when the convict got hold of his son, he took a stick and hit him, causing him injuries on the head, and also causing fracture on the young boys left arm. Prosecutor 413 Sanyang told the Court that the matter was then reported to the Yundum Police station by the convict’s own wife, Ramatoulie Gibba.

"The victim was then rushed to Banjulinding health centre where he was treated and discharged," Sanyang said. He expounded that after the boy was discharged from the health centre, a medical certificate was issued to him and a photograph of the boy’s head was also taken. Sanyang then tendered both the medical certificate and the photograph as exhibits, which were granted by Magistrate M’Bai and there was no objection from the father, Musa Sanyang. Corporal Sanyang concluded that the convict was then arrested by the police and later charged for the offence committed.

In his mitigation, Musa Sanyang noted that he had five children who were all depending on him alone for their survival; education and health. He urged the court to pardon him.

Handing down his verdict, Senior Magistrate M’Bai told the convict that he had taken into account that he (the convict) had pleaded guilty to the offence, adding that he (M’Bai) was well aware of the fact that the victim concerned was the convict’s own flesh and blood, who was only seven years old.

Senior Magistrate M’Bai further told the convict that he had taken note of the fact that he (Mr Sanyang) had informed the court that he was taking care of a big family. "But I did not hear you make one statement in your mitigation that you regretted your action or that you would never do it again. I did not hear you say even the word "Sorry". M’Bai noted.

He told the convict that the fact that he was the head of his family, taking care of them, did not mean that the court would deem it fitting not to pass a custodial sentence on him. "It is true that the victim is your son but even animals should not be treated in such a way, much more your own blood", he told Mr Sanyang.

He further put it to him (Mr Sanyang) that he should protect his son and not to harm him. "I would not hesitate to say that your action has shown to me that you are a pure heinous man," M’Bai concluded.

He then convicted and sentenced Musa Sanyang to Nine months imprisonment with hard labour, without an option of a fine.

Author: by Amadou Jallow