By Amadou Jadama
Magistrate Thomas of the Brusubi court yesterday convicted and sentenced one Yusupha Jambang to a fine of D7000 dalasi in default to serve 14 months in prison. He also ordered him to pay D2500 dalasi to a vehicle owner for compensation in default to serve four months in prison. The vehicle owner was not named in the court.
Jambang is the man arrested driving a UDP vehicle that police claimed carried suspected cannabis.
The Gambia Police Force Saturday announced that its patrol team in Bundung apprehended him driving a yellow pickup truck belonging to UDP and added that he had failed to stop for checking resulting in a pursuit and, while evading security check, he caused considerable damages to the patrol vehicle. The police also claimed that “evidence of suspected cannabis was found in the vehicle leading to the arrest of the driver.”
However, during this trial yesterday, no mention was made of any drugs.
Jambang was charged with three counts bordering on careless driving, unlicensed driving and failing to stop when required. When the charges were read to him, Jambang pleaded guilty.
According to the bill of indictment filed by Sergeant Lamin Darboe, the incident happened on April 17, along Sukuta high way at around 1am onwards, within the West Coast Region, when Yusupha Jambang drove a motor vehicle without care and attention, causing an accident.
On count two, the convict was charged with driving the said vehicle without a driving license, while count three accused him of failing to stop when required.
In his plea of mitigation, Yusupha begged the court to temper justice with mercy.
In passing his sentencing, the presiding magistrate said: “I hereby fine you on count one D1500 dalasi in default to serve 4 months in prison. On count two D500 dalasi in default to serve 2 months in prison and count three D3000 dalasi in default to serve 8 months.”
