A 43-year-old woman was on 2 February 2011 convicted and sentenced to a fine of D25,000 in default to serve 12 months in prison, by the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.
Ndey Binta Faye, who pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing, before Magistrate Tabally, was also ordered to pay a compensation of D10,000.
According to the charge sheet, the convict, on 22 January 2011, at FIB House in Latrikunda German, stole from one Kumba Daffeh items worth D35,700, the property of the complainant, Kumba Daffeh.
Narrating the facts, the prosecuting officer, CPL 335 Nying, revealed that the accused was working with the complainant, Kumba Daffeh. She said that on the day of the incident, the complainant came to the shop and realised that some items were missing.
"The complainant reported the matter to the police and investigations were mounted by the CID officers," CPL Nying told the court. She adduced that the accused was invited by the panel of investigators for interrogation but she denied taking the said items from the complainant's shop.
"A search was conducted and some of the items stolen were recovered at the convict's house," she said, adding that the convict was later cautioned and charged.
The convict, in plea of mitigation, begged the court to exercise leniency on her, saying she had earlier apologised to the complainant. Asked how old she was, the convict told the court that she was 43 years old.
"I am a married woman with three children and my husband is unemployed," the convict stated.
In passing sentence, the magistrate told the court that the convict had shown remorse and had not wasted the court's time, but added that the offence committed was a serious crime.
He consequently convicted and sentenced her accordingly, and ordered that the recovered items be returned to the complainant forthwith.
