Momodou Jallow, Mbye Touray and Ali Faal were Wednesday arraigned before Principal Magistrate Dayoh M. Small-Dago of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court, charged with conspiracy, office breaking and stealing.
The charge sheet read on count one stated that the accused persons, on 28 February 2014, at around 4 a.m. in Lamin, conspired to break into the library with intent to steal.
Count two stated that the accused persons on the same date and place entered into a library and stole the following items, two computers, eight ear phones and a webcam and sold them at D300 each, at the Serrekunda Market.Count three stated that the accused persons on the same date and place stole two computers, eight earphones and a valid webcam, being the property of Staffis International.
They admitted to the charge and the prosecutor said the 1st accused person was brought for the same crime, while the 2nd and third were first-time offenders.
The facts narrated in court stated that the incident happened on 28 February 2014, at around 4 a.m. when the accused persons were coming from a club and they decided to enter into the compound at Lamin and broke through the roof and stole two computers, eight earphones and a webcam.
He said they sold the items at Serrekunda Market to a man at D600.
The next day, they decided to go back to steal but they were seen and decided to run.However, the 3rd accused was apprehended and taken to the police station, and the next day the 1st and 2nd accused were also arrested.
In their plea of mitigation, the accused persons begged the court to temper justice with mercy.
Delivering the judgement, the trial magistrate said he had heard the accused persons’ plea of mitigation and the facts narrated in court by the prosecutor, which was confirmed by the accused persons to be true.
He said the accused persons did not look remorseful and he was satisfied that the accused intended to steal the items.
“The 1st accused is not a first-time offender and the fact that they repeated the act and threatened the staff, gives me the belief that they will do it again,” said the magistrate.
He therefore sentenced the accused persons as follows: count one, the 1st accused was sentenced to 6-month imprisonment with hard labour, the 2nd accused was sentenced to pay a fine of D15,000 in default to serve 6 months in prison with hard labour and the third accused, who is a minor, was sentenced to go to the library to clean twice a week to be supervised by the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Camara.
On count two, the 1st accused was sentenced to 6 months in prison with hard labour, the 2nd accused was fined D15,000 in default to serve 6 months in prison with hard labour and the 3rd accused was sentenced to go to the court every Thursday to clean for 3 months in default to serve one month in juvenile prison.
On count three, the 1st accused was sentenced to 6 months with hard labour, the 2nd accused was fined D5,000 in default to serve one month in prison, and the 3rd accused was fined D5,000 in default to serve one month in juvenile prison.
The sentences should run consecutively.
