By: Sering Mass Jallow
The Kanifing Magistrates’ Court Tuesday convicted and ordered Salieu Mbacke to pay a fine of D15, 000.00 for maliciously damaging a vehicle.
Presiding Magistrate, M.Sowe in addition imposed a non-custodial penalty, banning the accused from entering Gambian territory for a period of two years.
On the second charge, which relates to compensation for the damage caused, the accused is ordered to pay the complainant a sum of D70,000.00. Should he fails to pay the compensation, he will serve two-year-prison term at the Mile II State Central Prison.
Mbacke appeared before the court charged with malicious damage of property, in violation of Section 312 of the Criminal Code, Cap 10:01 Volume 3, Revised Laws of The Gambia, 2009.
According to the charge, on the 3rd of September 2024, at Bakau in Kanifing. Mbacke,willfully and unlawfully dismantled a Mercedes Benz 190 vehicle valued at D275,000.00 which belongs to Lamin Cherno Touray. The vehicle, bearing registration number “KM 6994E,” had been parked at GNPC for sale.
Touray testified that he was later informed the vehicle had been taken and reduced to scrap metal.
Prosecution Witness 2 (PW2) explained to the court that the accused’s primary motive of selling the vehicle parts as scrap was to raise fund for a planned “Backway” journey to Europe.
After listening carefully to the testimonies of both the prosecution and the accused, Magistrate M. Sowe delivered her ruling.
Her Lordship Magistrate Sowe concluded by ruling that both sentences shall run consecutively. She also reminded the convict of his legal right to appeal the verdict.
