The bill of indictment by Commissioner A. Sanneh, and assisted by Cadet ASP Trawally, indicated that Buba Nyangareh and Amadou Jallow on or about the 23rd December, 2020, at Senegambia, in the Republic of The Gambia, conspired between them to commit felony to wit possessing forged bank notes.
Prosecutors also alleged that on the same day and at the same place, without lawful authority or excuse, they had in their possession D116,800 Gambian currency notes in 200 dalasis denominations, knowing that the said currency notes were forged bank notes.
They pleaded guilty when the charge sheet was read to them, and urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
In her judgment, the presiding magistrate told the court that she heard the plea of mitigation of the convicts. She noted that they were charged with conspiracy to commit felony, contrary to Section 368 of the Criminal Code and purchasing forged bank notes, contrary to Section 334 of the Criminal Code. She further stated that in the case of conspiracy, the sentence is punishable with seven years imprisonment as well as purchasing forged bank notes.
She adduced that the acts of the convicts were planned and premeditated, noting that they are first-time offenders. She cited the case of the State and Nyabally. She added that the offences were serious and the convicts should be punished to serve as a deterrent to others. She further added that their actions are detrimental to the economy of the country.
It could be recalled that the spokesperson of the Gambia Police Force, Lamin Njie, had said that currently there are more than GMD40,000 that is believed to be in circulation in the market and is yet to be retrieved by the police.
“I can confirm that the police have recovered D116,000 from the suspects and all in 200 notes. The total amount of the fake currencies, according to our own investigation, is D160,000. So, there is D44,000 which we believe is either in circulation or somewhere; thus we need the public to cooperate with the police in recovering the remaining suspected fake monies.”
“Whoever got information about such kind of suspected monies can report the matter to the nearest police station. Secondly, anybody who by chance has these suspected fake notes must report to the nearest police station,” he further advised.
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