Senior Magistrate Abdoulie Mbacke of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court on 12th May, 2010, convicted and sentenced a Malian national, Musa Sidibeh, to a fine of D2, 000, in default to serve three months imprisonment for obtaining a Gambian identity card without authority.
In his mitigation, the convict told the court that he was begging for leniency, and that he would never repeat such an offence. He craved for court's indulgence to temper justice with mercy.
Magistrate Mbacke, in his judgement, stated that the court had heard the plea of mitigation by the convict, but he noted that he deserved some form of punishment.
He went on to say that as a Malian, the convict should have applied for an alien card, but instead deceived the Immigration Authorities and obtained a Gambian ID card.
He said the convict had shown some degree of remorse and as a first-time offender, he accordingly convicted and sentenced him.