By Dawda M. Jallow
One man, Ali Dibba, was yesterday convicted for obtaining goods by false pretence by Magistrate Awa Manneh of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.
Inspector Kebbeh, appearing on behalf of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), told the court that Ali Dibba was charged with “obtaining goods by false pretence,” contrary to Section 265 of the Criminal Offences Act 2025.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on November 30, 2025, at Kotu in the Kanifing Municipal Council. The accused allegedly received D210,000 from the complainant, Momodou Yahya Jallow, under the pretext of securing a seven-seater Golf motor vehicle, a claim he knew to be false.
The accused admitted the allegation, stating, “Yes, it is true I took money from the complainant.”
Inspector Kebbeh further told the court that the complainant received a call from Mr. Dibba in November 2025, claiming he had a seven-seater Golf available for sale at D270,000. The complainant paid D210,000 and promised to pay the remaining balance upon delivery of the vehicle. The accused, however, failed to show up when the complainant went to meet him, prompting him to report the matter to Kotu Police Station.
Subsequently, he said, the police invited Ali Dibba, who voluntarily appeared, was arrested, and confessed to committing the offence.
In his plea for leniency, the convict remarked, “I beg the court’s forgiveness and see what to do.”
The prosecution then requested, under Section 191 of the Criminal Offences Act, that the accused be ordered to pay D210,000 in compensation to the complainant.
In her ruling, Magistrate Awa Manneh granted the application, ordering Dibba to pay the full compensation of D210,000 to the complainant. In default of payment, he will serve a one-year imprisonment term. The magistrate also fined him D2,000, and in default of payment, he would serve an additional one-month imprisonment term.
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