By: Isatou Sarr
The Brikama Magistrates’ Court Wednesday convicted and sentenced Muhammed Drammeh to six months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay D12,000 in compensation after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his biological elder sister.
The court ordered that should he fail to pay the compensation, he would get another six months’ imprisonment meaning Drammeh would serve a total of 12 months if he fails to pay the D12,000 compensation.
The case was heard before Magistrate K.B. Sambou of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court, where Drammeh faced a single count of assault causing actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 196 of the Criminal Offences Act 2025.
Cadet Inspector M.A. Jallow announced his appearance for the Inspector General of Police and told the court that the accused was present and the matter was before the court for plea taking.
According to the particulars of the offence, Drammeh, on or about September 23, 2026, at Farato in the West Coast Region, allegedly assaulted Hawa Drammeh by hitting her in the face and causing her actual bodily harm.
The charge was read to Drammeh in English and interpreted into Mandinka, the language he chose to speak and he pleaded “guilty.”
In narrating the facts, the prosecution told the court that Drammeh realised that flowers he had planted at his home had been cut down. He subsequently confronted his elder sister, telling her that her children were responsible for cutting the flowers.
The prosecution said that during the confrontation, Drammeh threatened his sister and subsequently assaulted her by hitting her in the face.
The complainant reported the matter to Banjulinding Anti-Crime Unit and was referred to Banjulinding Health Centre, where she was treated and discharged.
The prosecution tendered medical certificates issued to the complainant which were admitted in evidence as Exhibit A after the accused raised no objection.
The prosecution further told the court that the complainant gave a statement to the police after returning from the health centre. The statement subsequently led to the arrest of Drammeh, who was cautioned and charged with the offence.
When asked about the facts presented by the prosecution, Drammeh admitted them as accurate. In mitigation, he pleaded for mercy, saying: “I regret committing the offence and promise it will not happen again.”
The complainant was also called before the court and asked about her relationship with Drammeh. She told the court that he was her younger brother and that they shared the same mother and father.
She urged the court to punish him according to the law, saying he had been disturbing her.
In delivering the judgment, the court said it had considered Drammeh’s mitigation but could not imagine a man becoming physical with a woman, particularly his biological elder sister.
The court sentenced Drammeh to six months’ imprisonment and ordered him to pay D12,000 as compensation to the victim, in default of payment, a further six months’ imprisonment.