By: Isatou Sarr
A court sitting in Brikama has fined a driver D5,000 for illegally transporting timber without a permit and without paying required forestry royalties, judicial sources revealed Tuesday.
The Brikama Magistrates’ Court convicted Omar Mansally after he pleaded guilty to a single count of removal of major forest produce, contrary to Section 87(3) of the Forestry Act 2018.
Prosecutor Cadet Inspector M.A. Jallow told the court that the offence occurred on 16 January 2026 in Kafuta, Kombo East District of the West Coast Region.
He said Mansally was arrested while driving a truck loaded with nine logs of timber known locally as “Tabo” without a valid transport permit or payment of forestry royalties.
The court heard that the vehicle, with registration number WCR 0835 B, was heading towards the Kombo area at the time of the arrest.
Mansally admitted the offence when the charge was read and confirmed the facts presented by the prosecution, leading the court to enter a conviction based on his guilty plea.
In mitigation, he pleaded for leniency.
Magistrate Kanjura B. Sambou noted that as a professional driver, the accused had a duty to ensure that transported goods, particularly forest products, were properly authorized.
The magistrate, however, considered that Mansally was a first-time offender and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, saving the court’s time.
“You have pleaded for leniency, but your action is uncalled for,” Magistrate Sambou said before sentencing.
The court fined Mansally D5,000, with a default sentence of six months’ imprisonment. It also ordered the forfeiture of the nine logs of timber to the Department of Forestry.
In line with Section 97 of the Forestry Act 2018, the court directed that 50 per cent of the fine be paid to the State.