By: Dawda M Jallow
A man accused of stealing a motorbike engine valued over D250,000.00 has been arraigned before the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, where he denied the charge and was granted bail.
Muhammad Suwareh appeared before the court on a single count of stealing, contrary to the Criminal Offences Act 2025. The case was presided over by Magistrate Binta Sowe.
Prosecutor Sergeant 4370 E.M Jallow announced his appearance on behalf of the Inspector General of Police. According to the charge sheet, the accused is alleged to have, on 2 December 2025 at Kanifing Municipality, stolen a BMW motorbike engine valued at D254,770, property of one Sulay Badjie.
The charge was read to the accused in a language he understood, and he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution did not object to bail, and the court subsequently granted the accused bail in the sum of D256,000 or two Gambian sureties. The sureties are required to swear to an affidavit of means and provide valid identification, residential addresses and contact details, which are to be verified.
They are also expected to guarantee the accused’s attendance in court, failing which they would be held liable. The court further stated that in the event the accused absconds, the bail bond would be forfeited to the state, and the sureties may be required to compensate the complainant.
During the proceedings, the complainant, Sulayman Badjie, a mechanic residing in Kotu, took the witness stand. He told the court that he discovered the engine missing from a motorbike he was repairing at his garage.
“I came to my garage and saw that the engine of the bike I was working on was no longer there,” he said. “I asked my apprentices, and they told me it had been there earlier in the day.”
Badjie said his search led him to a scrap metal dealer, where he identified parts of the missing engine. He said he took photographs of the items and later reported the matter to the police.
The prosecution applied to tender Badjie’s statement made to the police on 3 December 2025. The accused objected, stating he was not present when the statement was made and had no knowledge of it.
However, the court admitted the statement into evidence, noting that its weight would be determined at the judgment stage.
The case was adjourned to 25 March 2026 for continuation.