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Alleged Criminal Trespasser Charged

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:18:05 GMT

Monday, December 01, 2008

One Dembo Jarju of Busumbala recently appeared at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court on a charge of criminal trespass.

According to the particulars of the alleged offence, on 16thNovember 2008 at Busumbala, Kombo North District in the Western Region the accused unlawfully entered the compound of one Isatou Fatty and insulted her.

When the charge sheet was read to him in the language he claims to understand, he pleaded not guilty.

Meanwhile the accused was remanded in custody until the next adjourned date, which is 3rdDecember 2008.

Author: Yai Dibba

Car thief in court

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:45:31 GMT

Monday, November 24, 2008

One Alhagie Jobe was on Wednesday arraigned before the Kanifing Magistrates Court charged with unlawfully entering the compound of one Mustapha Fatty and damaging the glass windows of a vehicle (with the registration number, KMC 6).

This was said to have happened on November 17 between 5 am to 6 am in Dippa Kunda. The accused was also said to have stolen items worth D43,500 from the said vehicle. This included an injector, and 3 pressure plates.

According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Mariama Fatty, the stolen items were sold to one Alhagie Nyass for D750. She further told the court that an investigation was mounted and the items were recovered. They were tendered in court and marked as exhibits. The accused had earlier on pleaded guilty.

Author: by Musa Ndow

Football fan charged

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 08:55:48 GMT

Friday, October 17, 2008

One Momodou Jallow a Gambian national was on Wednesday paraded before Sainabou Wadda-Camara of the Kanifing magistrate court, for wilfully and unlawfully damaging the wind screen of a vehicle registration number Bjl 3807F, being the property of Saidou Camara.When the charge was read to him, he pleaded guilty.

According to the particulars of the offense,Momodou Jallow on the 11th day of October, 2008 at about 1800 hours while jubilating the Senegal- Gambia match draw, he unlawfully and willfully damaged the windscreen of the complainant car valued D75,000.

Followng his plea of guilt to the charge preferred against him,the presiding magistrate Sainabou Wadda-Camara fine Mr Jallow D5000.00 in default to serve 3months imprisonment.

Author: by Adama Kah and Omar Wally

‘Rapist’ remanded

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:01:00 GMT

Monday, September 01, 2008

One Muhammed Bah, a Guinean national was, on Thursday, arraigned before Senior Magistrate Abdoulie Mbake of the Kanifing Magistrates Court charged with rape, contrary to section 121 of the Criminal Code.

According to the particulars of the case, in the month of June, Muhammed Bah, in Ebo Town, unlawfully had carnal knowledge of a 16-year old girl (name withheld) without her consent.

Reacting to the charge preferred against him, Muhammed Bah pleaded not guilty. Senior Magistrate Abdoulie Mbake then ordered for him to be remanded in custody owing to the “gravity” of the case.

The case was adjourned to the 11th of September, 2008. Sergeant Touray represented the IGP.

Author: by Amadou Sonko Bah

‘Paedophile’ pleads not guilty

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:09:20 GMT

Friday, August 29, 2008

Anthony Michael Dobson, a Norwegian tourist who is standing trial on charges of defiling a minor and child pornography, which contravene Section 127(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 10 Volume III of the amended Children Act 2005 and Section 8 (1)(a) of the Tourism Act 2003, has pleaded not guilty.

The embattled Norwegian appeared before Magistrate Ayoub John Njie of the Brikama Magistrates Court. According to the prosecution, Anthony Michael Dobson unlawfully and carnally defiled a young girl (name withheld) who was less than 18 years at Yarambamaba Estate, along Coastal Road, Old Yundum. Mr Dobson was also charged for taking indecent photographs of a child (name withheld) between the months of July and August, this year, at the same place.

His Gambian accomplice, Mustapha Drammeh, is also facing trial for procuring a child (name withheld) for Mr Anthony, which is contrary to Section 30(1)(a) of the Children’s Act. Mr Drammeh has also pleaded not guilty.

When the case was mentioned, the presiding magistrate informed the court about the request of the defence counsel, Borry Touray, for an adjournment of the trial, which he later granted. However, the police prosecutor, ASP Touray made an application for the court to refuse the two accused persons bail, saying that the case is still under investigation.

His application was granted by the presiding magistrate, who subsequently adjourned the matter to September 11.

Author: by Amadou Jallow

Man bags D70,000 bail bond

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:01:25 GMT

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Madi Sowe, a 27-year old man was, yesterday, granted bail in the sum of D70,000 after he was charged with the defilement of a girl under the age of 16. He was brought before the Bundung Magistrates’ Court presided over by Senior Magistrate Kumba Sillah-Camara.

According to the fact before the court, Madi Sowe unlawfully had carnal knowledge of the girl (name withheld), sometime in the year 2007 at Bundung in the Kanifing Municipality.

Madi Sowe told the court that he wanted to seek for services of a counsel.
Senior Magistrate Sillah-Camara then granted him court bail in the sum of D70,000 or a Gambian surety who must deposit his ID Card and furnish the court with a reachable contact address.

She then adjourned the case to August 12, in order to allow the accused time to secure the services of a lawyer.

Author: by Salifu M. Touray

2 years with hard labour for infanticide

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:12:07 GMT

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Binta Jatta, 32, was on Tuesday, 8 July 2008, convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour, for infanticide.

According to the particulars of her offence, read by Senior Magistrate Kumba Sillah-Camara of the Bundung Magistrates’ Court, the accused, on 15 May 2008, at Fajikunda in the KMC, unlawfully dumped her newly born baby girl into a pit latrine, thereby causing the death of the baby.

After the charge sheet was read and translated to her in the language she understood, Binta Jatta, who had cried in the court during her first appearance before Senior Magistrate Kumba, last week, pleaded guilty to the offence.

Narrating the story before the court, the prosecution, Corporal 134 Sambou, said that one Essa Danso, the landlord of the accused person, had reported at the police station that a lady-tenant in his compound who was sometime pregnant was no more seen with the pregnancy. Danso disclosed this on the 17 of May, 2008.

He further informed the court that on enquiry from Binta Jatta about her pregnancy, she told him (the landlord) that she had delivered two days back, at the Fajikunda Health Center, alleging however that it was unfortunate that the child had not survived.

The unconvinced Danso continued on his private investigation, going straight to the Fajikunda Health Center where the can of worms was opened to him. He said that the nurse on duty had carefully informed him that they were not aware and had no such name on their register.

Immediately after that confirmation, Danso switched on to Wellingara Police Station where he reported his findings to the police who later arrested the accused and handed her over to the CID for interrogation.

She later confessed to the CID officers that she had truly given birth to a baby girl, but that she had thrown her baby into a pit latrine in a nearby compound. When she accompanied police to the said compound, nothing was found. But on further investigation, she finally opened to the police that she had wrapped the baby and pushed her inside a metal pipe.

According to Corporal Sambou, the police invited the fire service personnel who proceeded to the spot she had identified. He said that they broke the mental pipe in the pit latrine and pulled out the deceased baby girl in the presence of the accused and the CID. The deceased’s baby was taken to the Health Centre where the corpse was sent to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital for post mortem.

Prior to her ruling, Senior Magistrate Kumba asked the accused, Binta Jatta, if all the prosecution had said were true. She confirmed it and said "it is true." At this juncture the Magistrate said since she had accepted been guilty and that everything said was the truth, she was therefore found guilty of the offence. She was then convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour, without a fine.

Author: by Yunus S. Saliu

Man charged with defilement of girl 18

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:59:26 GMT

Thursday, June 05, 2008

One Musa Ceesay on Monday appeared before the Bundung Magistrates’ Court, presided over by Senior Magistrate Kumba Sillah – Camara, on charge of defilement of a girl, age 18, contrary to section 127, cap 10 volume 3 laws of the Gambia.

According to the particular of the offence, sometime in the month of October 2007, at Brufut, Kombo North the accused unlawfully had carnal knowledge a teenage girl, Fatou Barrow, age 18.

When the case was called, Musa Ceesay pleaded not guilty.

Kaddy Demba, the mother of the teenage girl, when asked if she knew the accused person or if she could remember what had happened between her daughter and the accused person in the months of October and December 2007, she confirmed that she knew him, and she added that nothing was wrong with her daughter, only that she was pregnant.

At this juncture Senior Magistrate Sillah-Camara then granted the accused person bail in the sum of D100,000, with a Gambian surety who must furnish the court with his reachable contact address. Meanwhile, the case was adjourned to 17 June 2008, for continuation. Corporal 432 Njie represented IGP.

Author: by Yunus S. Saliu

Nurse charged for assault on patient

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 05:44:34 GMT

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Muhammed Waggeh, a nurse at the Brikama Health Centre, was Monday arraigned before Magistrate Ayoub John Njie of Brikama Magistrates Court charged with common assault, which is in contravention to Section 227 of the Criminal Code.

Mr Waggeh was said to have unlawfully assaulted one Hawa Gassama, a patient on May 12, this year. The accused was alleged to have slapped the patient and beat her up with a broken handle of a broomstick.

Mr Waggeh has denied the allegations levelled against him. He requested the court to adjourned the case, as his lawyer Lamin Jobarteh, was indisposed. His application was granted by the presiding magistrate.

Police prosecutor 134 Sambou informed the court that the accused person was under a police bail and that he would want the bail to be revoked for a court bail. This application was as well granted by Magistrate Njie and the accused was granted a court bail at the sum of D1,500, with a Gambian surety, plus an authentic national ID card.

The case was then adjourned to 12 June for continuation of the proceedings.

Author: by Amadou Jallow

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