Magistrate A. Manneh of the Kanifing Magistrate’s Court has sentenced two women, Adama Colley and Mamundaw Saidy, to fines and potential imprisonment following their conviction for the brutal assault of a minor. The women were found guilty of pouring a harmful mixture of vinegar, black pepper, and candle wax on the victim’s private parts.
The accused, along with a third woman, Fatou Colley, who remains at large, were initially charged with Conspiracy to Commit a Felony under Section 341 and Assault Causing Actual Bodily Harm under Section 196 of the Criminal Offences Act. The charges were presented in court by police prosecutor ASP Badjie and Cadet Inspector Dodou Jammeh.
According to the prosecution, on July 29, 2025, in Serrekunda, the three women conspired to assault Mariama Mbaye by pouring the harmful mixture on her. Adama Colley and Mamundaw Saidy pleaded guilty to the assault charge but denied conspiracy, which was later withdrawn by the prosecution.
The accused claimed the act was intended as “discipline” for the minor, whom they alleged had been “going out to follow boys all the time.” The prosecution noted that the women were first-time offenders.
In delivering her judgment, Magistrate Manneh condemned the attack, describing it as a “textbook case of child abuse.” She emphasized that the child was legally and morally incapable of consenting to, or provoking, such treatment.
Citing the sentencing guidelines issued by Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow on October 10, 2015, Magistrate Manneh highlighted the vulnerability of the victim while taking into account the defendants’ lack of prior offenses. Each woman was fined 50,000 dalasis, with a custodial term of two years in default of payment.
Medical evidence presented in court detailed burns sustained by the victim on her thighs and pubic area due to the candle wax, influencing the court’s decision.
In addition to fines, the prosecution requested compensation for the victim, citing the potential for lasting injuries. Defence counsel Pa Harry Jammeh argued that the matter was a family issue and that the fine was sufficient punishment, given the convicts’ backgrounds. The prosecution countered, urging the court to prioritize the victim’s welfare over family considerations.
Magistrate Manneh ordered each woman to pay 40,000 dalasis in compensation to the victim, with a one-year custodial sentence in default of payment.
The third accused, Fatou Colley, remains at large. A bench warrant has been issued for her arrest, and the case has been adjourned until she is apprehended.