#Headlines

Man’s philanthropic gesture lands him in court

May 5, 2022, 11:59 AM | Article By: Dawda Faye

Principal Magistrate Jabang of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on the 28th April, 2022, convicted and sentenced one Essa Jatta, who told the court that he gave out D381,352 to people as philanthropic gesture, to a fine of D10,000 in default to serve two years in prison. He was also ordered to compensate the complainants the sum of D381,352 in default to serve two years imprisonment. The presiding magistrate stated that if the convict fails to pay the compensation and the fine, the sentences would run concurrently. This followed the plea of guilt by the convict when the charge sheet was read to him.

Sub-Inspector Lang M. Barrow, the prosecuting officer, in narrating the facts, told the court that on the 25th March, 2022, at Manjai Kunda, one of the complainants, Fatou Mbye, was travelling with her son and entrusted the sum of D381,352 to the convict.  He posited further that when she came back from her journey, she asked the convict about the money but could not account for it.

In his plea of mitigation, the convict told the court that he gave out the money to people to assist them. “I don’t know what has befallen me. I even gave out my own money to people without realizing it. I just give out money like that. Initially, the complainants agreed with me to compensate them with a piece of land. My father has already processed the documents but Fatou Mbye later said that she was no longer interested in the land. I beg the court to temper justice with mercy,” he pleaded.

The convict faced a charge of stealing contrary to Section 252 of the Criminal Code. He is alleged to have stolen the sum of D381,352 belonging to Fatou Mbye and Kaba Kujabie at Manjai Kunda, in the Kanifing Municipality of the Republic of The Gambia, on or about the 25th March, 2022.