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Babucarr Beyai was yesterday found guilty of publishing false information and
fined D50,000 in default to serve one year in prison by Magistrate Fatou Darboe
of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.
Beyai was convicted and sentenced for publishing false information on 19 July last year that the director of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) was dismissed.
The particulars of offence stated that on 19 July 2014, Babucarr Beyai negligently published to one Bakary Dahabah, through a phone call, that the director of the National Intelligence Agency was dismissed, and the information was deemed false and thereby committed an offence.
In her judgment, Magistrate Fatou Darboe said the prosecution called three witnesses and tendered one exhibit, which all proved the guilt of the accused.
Mitigating on behalf of the accused, defence counsel Mboge said the accused was a first-time offender and a family man, who has served as a civil servant.
He said the accused has erred in the eyes of the law, and urged the court to temper justice with mercy and forgive the accused for his errors.
Counsel Mboge added that the accused was a civil servant, and the court has the power to caution and discharge him.
Passing her sentence, the magistrate said the court believed that the accused person is a young man and if given the chance, he could redeem his action.
She said that during the proceedings, she had seen much remorse shown by the accused, adding that the court’s hands are tied and the least sentence the court could give was the fine of D50,000 in default to serve one year in prison.
