By Ali Jaw
Muhammed Mbye, a driver was recently arranged in court presided over by Magistrate MS Jallow of the Kanifing Magistrate’s Court to answer on the allegation of reckless driving.
He had been accused of causing an accident involving two vehicles on the 27th of April, 2020, at the Kotu BB junction due to recklessness or lack of care while driving.
One Sayang, a traffic police officer, appeared in the court to give evidences on the allegations of the careless driving against the Muhammed Mbye, the defendant.
He was asked whether he knew the man, and if so, did anything transpired between them on the 7th of April, 2020, which he affirmed to.
“An accident happened that day between Ebrima Bah, and Muhammed Mbye. Muhammed Mbye said he is an Immigration officer. Ebrima Bah was coming from BB Kotu junction going toward Palmarima junction, and the suspect was coming from Palmarima going to BB junction. The suspect control of the steering wheel, he crossed his lane, and knocked Ebrima’s vehicle, which was on the other lane,’’ the witness said.
The witness added that: “Ebrima’s car fell on the right side of the traffic, while the accused’s vehicle stopped at the lane Ebrima Bah was. I was called from the junction to come; I came to the scene of the accident and then, wrote my report. I later gave Muhammed, the accused, a warning letter, and one Chief Inspector Badjie, tested his vehicle and gave him a test certificate.’’
“What do you mean ‘report’…,’’ Prosecutor (3084) N. Ceesay asked, and the witness testified that, it is a report concerning the accident.”
The witness went further to tell the court that, the report has all the information about the accident that occurred, and it is known as accident report.
He was also asked whether, during the time he was preparing the report, both parties were present, and he affirmed that both parties involved in the accident were at the Kotu Police station at the preparing the report.
‘’I asked both of them their vehicle particulars. Ebrima provided his, while Muhammed, the accused, provided us with O.S.D.G, a government issued driver’s license, which does not cover that particular vehicle. The vehicle he was driving was not a government vehicle,’’ the prosecution witness concluded.
The accused was shown the accident report, a warning letter dated the 9th of April, and an accident sketch plan during the hearing in the court for confirmation or any objection of its content, but he confirmed all the documents presented before him.