Senior Magistrate Mbake on 29 April 2009 convicted and sentenced one Futa Camara charged with stealing a wheelbarrow to three months imprisonment with hard labour.
Before passing the sentence, the presiding magistrate informedthe court that the prosecution had proven its case beyond all reasonable doubt, and that the accused has committed the offence charged. He said the convict told the court that he lives at Bakau and the court later knew that he resides in Kotu, noting that this has considerably weakened his defence.
Magistrate Mbake also told the court that the convict as a security officer is expected to protect and secure properties rather than stealing, thus betraying the trust bestowed on him by his employer, and therefore merits some form of punishment to serve as detterent to others.
'The offence of stealing by a security guard has reached an alarming rate, and six to seven cases of security officers charged with stealing appeared before me and I tend to lose hope on local security now,' he remarked.
He said it was the duty of the court and police to halt such malpratices adding that they should be content with their salaries. Greed also leads to evil actions, he remarked.
Senior Magistrate Mbake, however noted that the convict is a first time offender and that fact has prompted the court to exercise some leniancy.
In his plea of mitigation, the convict begged the court to temper justice with mercy as he had already spent seven months in custody.
Despite his plea, he was sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour.
Cpl Ensa Sarr was the prosecuting officer.
