By: Dawda M. Jallow
The Kanifing Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a man to one month’s imprisonment for causing actual bodily harm following an assault case at Bakau Beach.
Matarr Njie was convicted by Magistrate Awa Manneh after he pleaded guilty to headbutting and assaulting Alieu Sanneh during an altercation on 20 February 2026.
Prosecutor Sub-Inspector E. Fatty, appearing on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, charged the accused under Section 196 of the Criminal Offences Act 2025.
The court heard that the incident occurred at about 3:00 p.m., shortly after Jummah prayers, when the complainant went to Bakau Beach for physical exercise.
According to the prosecution, Njie, who was seated nearby, confronted the complainant as he approached. The situation escalated, and the accused allegedly grabbed Sanneh by the neck and headbutted him in the face, causing injury.
The court was told that even after the complainant fell to the ground, the accused continued beating him until bystanders intervened. It reportedly took several people to separate the two men.
Following the incident, the matter was reported to the police. Njie was later arrested and taken to Bakau Police Station, where he was questioned. The prosecution said he confessed, and both his voluntary and cautionary statements were tendered and admitted in evidence.
Photographs of the complainant’s injuries were taken at the station. He was later escorted to the General Hospital for treatment and subsequently discharged. A medical report confirming the injuries, signed by Dr. Michael Mendy, was also tendered in court.
In mitigation, the convict described the incident as a mistake.
The prosecution applied under Section 191 of the Criminal Procedure Act for compensation to be awarded to the victim, noting that the accused was a first-time offender.
In her ruling, Magistrate Manneh considered the guilty plea and the fact that the convict did not waste the court’s time. She sentenced Njie to one month’s imprisonment and imposed a fine of D5,000.
In default of payment, he will serve an additional one month’s imprisonment. The sentences are to run consecutively.
