Intending traveller convicted for making false document

One Mustapha Ceesay was Monday convicted and sentenced to a fine of D10,000 in default to serve one year in prison by the Brikama Magistrates’ Court, presided over by Magistrate Jagne.

According to the particulars of offence, the accused, Mustapha Ceesay, on 24 July 2013, at the Banjul International Airport, Kombo North District of West Coast Region, presented a false Schengen visa number 50281074 in his Gambian passport number 389773 to the profiling officers of VUSLING Airlines with intent to travel to France via Barcelona.

The facts of the case as narrated by the prosecuting officer, Sub-inspector Sanyang, stated that it happened on 24 July 2013, when the accused went to the Banjul International Airport with intent to travel to France via Barcelona.

He presented his Gambian Passport number PC 389773 which contained a Schengen visa number 50281074 to the profiling officers of VUSLING Airline, who after thorough check suspected it to be a false visa.

The accused was arrested and taken to the passport office and was later handed over to the taskforce.

During the investigation, a letter was sent to the French embassy for verification, who sent a reply indicating that the said visa was false together with the stamp contained.

In his plea of mitigation, the accused told the court that he was a first-time offender, and begged the court to temper justice with mercy.