Cecilia E.L Mendy
The Banjul High Court Monday convicted and sentenced two men to 20- year-imprisonment over conspiracy and robbery charges.
The two were tried in connection with armed theft of cash and mobile phones from a businessman in Tallinding Farokono in 2021.
Justice Ebrima Jaiteh found Modou Badjie and Ebrima Camara guilty after ruling that the prosecution had proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
State Counsel M. Sar represented the prosecution, while E.Z. Bendou and C.U. Uduma appeared for the accused persons.
The two men were charged with conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to Section 368 of the Criminal Code and robbery contrary to Section 272 of the Criminal Code.
According to the prosecution, the accused conspired in August 2021 before robbing businessman Bakary Sabally on 19 August 2021 at Tallinding Farokono in the Kanifing Municipality.
The court heard that the two men threatened Sabally with a knife and a broken bottle before stealing two mobile phones and D15,000 intended for travel expenses to attend his younger brother’s funeral.
Sabally testified that he recognized both accused persons during the attack, identifying Modou Badjie by name and Ebrima Camara, whom he knew by the nickname “Guchi”. He said he immediately reported the incident to the police, leading to the arrest of the suspects the following day.
The prosecution called four witnesses and tendered documentary and material evidence, including voluntary confessional statements made by the accused.
In his judgment, Justice Jaiteh held that the evidence established a common criminal design between the two men, including the planning and execution of the robbery, the sharing of the stolen money and the disposal of the stolen mobile phones.
The judge ruled that the confessional statements, together with the oral and documentary evidence, proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused acted jointly in carrying out the robbery.
“The evidence adduced by the prosecution is cogent, compelling, internally consistent and mutually corroborative. It establishes the guilt of both accused persons beyond reasonable doubt,” Justice Jaiteh said.
The court convicted both men on the charge of conspiracy and sentenced each to five years’ imprisonment.
On the robbery charge, each was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Justice Jaiteh ordered that the sentences run concurrently, meaning each convict will serve an effective prison term of 20 years. He further directed that the period spent in lawful custody pending trial be deducted from their sentences in accordance with the law.