A magistrate court in Banjul has convicted a 21-year-old fisherman, Alagie Amadou Jallow, of stealing a motorbike valued at 43,000 dalasis, rejecting his claims that he was framed by the police.
Principal Magistrate Krubally ruled that the prosecution had established its case beyond a reasonable doubt, citing what he described as compelling evidence that Mr. Jallow was found in possession of the stolen property without lawful explanation.
The case stemmed from a report filed on January 13, 2025, by the complainant, Momodou Agibou Jallow, who told police that his blue-and-black TVS motorbike had gone missing from his compound in Banjul.
Testifying before the court, Sergeant Atabou Jammeh said he intercepted Mr. Jallow later that night in the Serrekunda area, where he observed him and a young child pushing a motorbike without a registration number plate at about 11 p.m. The officer told the court that the ignition key was broken, raising suspicion.
According to the testimony, Mr. Jallow initially claimed that the motorbike belonged to his brother. However, a man brought to the scene to verify that claim informed officers that Mr. Jallow had been attempting to sell the motorbike to him.
Prosecutors also presented evidence from the Anti-Crime Unit, which stated that Mr. Jallow later confessed to the theft and led investigators to the location where the motorbike had been taken.
In his defense, Mr. Jallow denied the charge and alleged that another individual, identified as Algasim Jallow, was responsible for the theft but had been released after his father paid police officers 15,000 dalasis. Mr. Jallow further alleged that he was prosecuted only because he refused to pay a bribe, saying he chose instead to save money to improve his late father’s compound.
Magistrate Krubally noted that the accused failed to call any witnesses to substantiate those allegations, despite being given multiple opportunities by the court.
In delivering his judgment, the magistrate said the accused had been found in direct possession of stolen property and had failed to provide any lawful documentation or credible explanation for it.
“The prosecution has proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt,” Magistrate Krubally said.
Before sentencing, Mr. Jallow appealed for leniency, telling the court that he was a first-time offender and was due to be married within two weeks. He said he was committed to reforming his life.
Taking into account his age and lack of prior convictions, the court imposed a fine rather than a custodial sentence. Mr. Jallow was fined 5,000 dalasis or three months’ imprisonment, ordered to pay 5,000 dalasis in compensation to the complainant or face six months in prison, and directed to return the motorbike to its owner.
The magistrate warned that failure to comply with both financial penalties would result in the prison sentences being served consecutively.
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