Musa Jarjue, an employee of Multitrade Gambia Ltd, who was charged with stealing, contrary to Section 258 of the Criminal Code, was on Tuesday 21st July, 2009, sentenced to two years in prison, without an option of a fine for stealing D698, 000 from the said company by Principal Magistrate Basiru Mahoney.
Magistrate Mahoney, in his judgment, told the court that the convict worked for ten years for the company and was in custody of the company's money. He stated that the convict had tampered with the company's money as confirmed in his voluntary and cautionary statements.
He went on to say that, the entries in the diary of the company were done by the convict fraudulently. He noted that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, and that he was convinced that the convict was guilty of the offence.
In his mitigation, the convict told the court that he had a large family and was its only breadwinner. He begged the court to have mercy on him.
According to him, he deeply regretted his action and would not repeat it again.
He finally urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
However, Magistrate Mahoney sentenced him to two years in prison and ordered him to pay the company a compensation of D698, 000, in default to serve another two years with hard labour.
Prosecutor Inspector Fadera stood in for the IGP.
