By: Dawda M. Jallow
A mother has brought her son before the Kanifing Magistrate’s Court for stealing items valued at D7,000 belonging to her, in a case presided over by Magistrate I. Jallow.
The accused, Modou Lamin Cham, was charged with general punishment for theft under Section 126 of the Criminal Offences Act, 2025.
According to the prosecution, Cham stole a wheelchair valued at D4,000, crutches worth D1,500 and a metal bed frame valued at D1,500, all belonging to Yafaye Badjan, on or about 3 July 2026 at Latrikunda German in the Kanifing Municipality.
The total value of the stolen items was put at D7,000.
When the charge was read to him in a local language, the accused said he understood and admitted the offence.
“I did it because it was my mother’s items,” Cham told the court.
Prosecutor M.A. Jallow told the court that on 1 July 2026, at around 9 a.m., the accused met a scrap metal dealer, Bubacarr Kanteh, while on his way to buy breakfast.
The prosecution said Cham informed the scrap dealer that he had items to sell and later took him to the location where he removed the wheelchair, crutches and metal bed frame before selling them.
The court heard that after the complainant discovered that the items were missing, she suspected the accused and reported the matter to the police.
According to the prosecution, Cham was arrested and, during questioning, admitted taking the items, leading to his appearance before the court.
The prosecution informed the court that the metal bed frame had been recovered and applied for it to be tendered as an exhibit.
In mitigation, Cham pleaded for forgiveness and promised to recover and return the missing items to his mother.
“I am begging the court for forgiveness. If I am given a chance, I will recover those items and return them to my mother,” he told the court.
He also informed the court that he had spent one week in detention and had suffered during that period.
The prosecution applied for compensation to be paid to the complainant for the missing items.
In her ruling, Magistrate I. Jallow ordered Cham to pay a fine of D6,000, with a default sentence of 14 days imprisonment.
The court also ordered him to pay D6,000 compensation to the complainant, with an additional 14-day imprisonment term in default.