Principal Magistrate Fatou Drammeh of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court on 20th July 2010 convicted one Mbye Njie on three counts, and sentenced him to two years and three months imprisonment.
Mbye Njie was arraigned before magistrate Drammeh charged with three counts of stealing from a dwelling house, assaulting a police officer in executing his duties and for wilful damage to property. He denied all charges.
The prosecuting officer, Inspector Mballow, called witnesses. However, the accused person, Mbye Njie, opened his defence, but did not call any witnesses.
At the end of the case, the trial magistrate delivered judgment, and found Mbye Njie guilty.
In his mitigation plea, the convict told the court that he was under the influence of alcohol when he committed the crime.
He said he has children at home to take care, and is also the breadwinner for his mother. Mbye Njie added that he was suffering, as he was sick while under detention, and asked the court to temper justice with mercy.
When the magistrate asked Inspector Mballow whether the accused was a first offender, the police prosecutor told the court that Mbye Njie has six cases pending since 2008, and a case awaiting judgment.
Magistrate Drammeh subsequently sentenced Mbye Njie, on count one to three months imprisonment with hard labour, on count two to one year imprisonment with hard labour, and on count three to another one year in prison with hard labour, all sentences to run consecutively.
