Principal Magistrate Hilary Abeke of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court
recently convicted and sentenced one Alfusainey Bojang to a fine of D300,000,
in default to serve three years in prison with hard labour.
The convict, Alfusainey Bojang, was found guilty on two counts of being in possession of expired foods contrary to Foods and Safety Act and interfering with the seized goods.
The facts as narrated by the police prosecutor, CPL 3999 S.H. Secka, are that the incident happened in July 2015, at Lamin village in the Kombo North district of the West Coast Region.
He said the staff of the Food and Safety Authority were conducting food inspection at Lamin, and came to the accused person’s shop where they found that 17 bottles of vinegar were expired and confiscated all the bottles.
The convict was issued with a confiscation certificate, and warned not to sell the 17 bottles containing the said expired vinegar for they would be coming for their disposal.
The following morning, when the officers went to the accused’s shop, they found the shop closed and he was nowhere to be seen.
The officers left and later came back to the shop for the bottles. They found that the accused had removed the expired bottles of vinegar and transferred the contents to two 5-liter gallons and replaced water in the 17 bottles that contained the expired vinegar.
He was arrested and taken to the Old Yundum Police Station, where he was charged.
The accused person begged the court to temper justice with mercy, saying he is a family man and his shop was closed.
