By Fatou Sillah & Mamie Ngum
The Deputy Public Relations Officer of The Gambia Police Force, Cadet ASP Muhammed Y Darboe, has informed the Media that the Anti-Crime Unit of the Gambia Police Force recovered stolen items and apprehended five people to help with their investigations in connection to the recovered stolen goods.
ASP Cadet Darboe said that five people were arrested for their alleged involvement in stealing from Biggist Financial Services and Bureau De Change located in the Senegambia tourist area as well as from another store located in Kombo Lamin. The suspects, according to the police PRO, are between the ages of 24 and 18 years old.
The items reported stolen from Biggist Financial Services and Bureau De Change were eight laptops, five smartphones, four flat screens and a sum of fifty thousand Dalasis. The Police Anti-Crime Unit as we go to press were able to recover seven laptops and two smartphones.
The items stolen from the shop in Kombo Lamin were four flat screens, two Bluetooth speakers, two cartons of clothes and two cartons of perfumes. The Police Anti-Crime Unit has recovered all stolen items from that shop except for one carton of clothes, and one carton of perfume.
“The Sad reality is that the persons of interest are between the ages of 24, 18, and 19. Young people are the ones alleged to be involved in this suspected theft. We can inform all of you that these persons of interest are arrested and detained, and their matters have been forwarded to the Gambia Police Force Prosecution for onward transmission to the courts. Unfortunately, for now, we are witnessing the legal year celebration for our lawyers. But as soon as those practices are done, we are hopeful that they will be taken to the courts for prosecution and conviction.
“Already, others that are here arrested, detained for more than 72 hours are released on bail. But they are reporting back while we are waiting for the completion of the legal year for action,” he said.
The Deputy Police PRO made these remarks on Wednesday while briefing the media on the latest development of their Anti-Crime Unit’s operations.