The Brikama Magistrates' Court presided over by Principal Magistrate Mahoney recently convicted and sentenced one Sheikh Omar Sowe to three years imprisonment for cattle rustling.
Testifying, Omar Sonko, a police officer attached to Wellingara police station, told the court that on 25th June 2009 while on duty, he saw the convict passing with a ram. He adduced that he confronted the convict and the convict told him that the sheep was bought by his uncle one Ebrima Sallah, and that he was taking it to Abuko Abbatoir. He added that he took the telephone number from the convict and called the said Ebrima Sallah who denied owning the sheep adding that the convict was later detained.
Officer Sonko further adduced that later one Njaga Mbye reported the matter that he lost his sheep, and when the sheep was shown to him he recognized it.
The convict later changed his plea from not guilty to guilty and was convicted and sentenced accordingly.
