By Isatou Sarr
The Brikama Magistrates’ Court has fined Abdoulie Jallow D2,500 for careless driving and ordered him to pay D75,000 in compensation to a victim of a road accident.
Jallow was sentenced by Magistrate K.B. Sambou on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, after pleading guilty to the charge.
He was charged with careless driving, contrary to Section 51(1) of the Motor Traffic Act, Cap. 70:03, Volume 10, Revised Laws of The Gambia 2009.
The particulars of the offence stated that Jallow, on or about June 13, 2026, at Yundum Village between 0700 and 0730 hours, drove a Toyota commercial vehicle with registration number BJL 6834Y without due care and attention.
When the charge was read to him in English and interpreted into Wolof, Jallow confirmed that he understood it and pleaded guilty.
During an earlier hearing, Sub-Inspector Jallow, representing the Inspector General of Police, applied for an adjournment to enable the prosecution to obtain a medical report and other relevant documents concerning a person who was seriously injured in the accident.
The court subsequently granted Jallow bail in the sum of D500,000, with one Gambian surety required to deposit a valid Gambian passport or national identity card with the court registrar and depose to means.
When the case resumed on Sept. 11, the prosecution presented the facts of the case and applied to tender a medical report, certificate of prohibition of motor vehicle, warning letter and sketch plan as exhibits.
There was no objection from the accused, and the court admitted the documents into evidence.
Based on Jallow’s guilty plea, Magistrate Sambou convicted him of the offence.
In mitigation, Jallow pleaded for mercy, telling the court that he was a young man with responsibilities and that the accident was not deliberate.
In his ruling, Magistrate Sambou said he had considered Jallow’s mitigation but noted that his conduct was serious, as the victim could have lost her life in the accident.
The magistrate, however, took into consideration Jallow’s early guilty plea, noting that he had saved the court’s time.
“I will temper justice with mercy,” the magistrate said.
The court consequently sentenced Jallow to a fine of D2,500, in default of three months’ imprisonment.
The magistrate further ordered Jallow to pay D75,000 in compensation to the victim within three months.
The court also ordered that Jallow’s police bail remain in force pending payment of the compensation.
The court warned that failure to pay the D75,000 compensation within the stipulated period would result in Jallow serving one year in prison.