By: Isatou Sarr
A 16-year-old Senegalese boy, (name withheld) was on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, remanded after appearing before Magistrate Thomasi at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on two criminal charges.
The young boy, who chose to speak in Wolof, was arraigned on counts of breaking into a building with intent to commit a felony and theft, both contrary to the 2025 Criminal Offences Act.
The charges stemmed from an incident on 4th October 2025, when he allegedly broke into the shop of Fanding Marong at the Banjul beachside.
Prosecutors alleged that after entering the shop, the boy stole 34 pairs of shoes valued at D17,500, nine bottles of designer spray worth D4,500, two Nivea products valued at D500, a two-in-one shaving machine also valued at D500, and D1,800 in cash, bringing the total to D24,800.
When the charge sheet was read to him in Wolof, the boy denied all allegations, telling the court, “that is not true.” Chief Inspector Saidykhan, appearing for the IGP informed the court that the matter was only before them for mentioning and requested an adjournment to call witnesses.
Asked by the court about the accused’s bail status, the prosecution acknowledged that the offences are bailable but noted that the boy is a foreign national.
Magistrate Thomasi then asked the accused his age, to which he replied that he was born in 2009. The magistrate immediately ruled that the case fell under juvenile jurisdiction.
“This case is a juvenile matter and should be transferred to the Kanifing Children’s Court,” Magistrate Thomasi said. She ordered that the accused be remanded pending the reassessment of his bail.
The boy is expected to be re-arraigned before the Kanifing Children’s Court for trial and the matter is adjourned to Thursday, 11th December 2025.