By Landing Ceesay
Magistrate Isatou Jallow of the Bundung Magistrates Court has on Thursday ordered for the accused persons in the Brufut Heights’ Violent Robbery to be remanded at the Mile 2 Central Prison pending the hearing and determination of their case.
The accused persons are; Ousman Ceesay (1st accused), Assan Sowe (2nd accused), Sheriff Dibba (3rd accused), Ebrima Bah (4th accused), Ousman Fatajo (5th accused), Ida Faal (6th accused), and Muhammad Sowe (7th accused).
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) charged them with Robbery with Violence Contrary to Section 273(2) of the Criminal Code Vol: lII Revised Edition 2009 Laws of The Gambia.
The IGP alleged that the accused persons on the 25th day of July 2024 at Brufut Heights around 03:00 am to 04:00 am, West Coast Region of the Republic of The Gambia, with violence, forcefully robbed Abdul Lamin and Mbakey Sowe with cutlasses, knife and long gun which resulted to the serious stabbing of Mr. Morro Ceesay on his left rib.
The IGP alleged that the accused persons stole the following; Cash Amount of Thirty Thousand Dalasis (D30,000.00), One Black Solar Panel valued at One Thousand Dalasis (D1,000.00), Two Watches Cartis Second Class valued at Forty Dollars ($40) equivalent to Two Thousand Eight Hundred Dalasis (D2,800.00), One Seiko Watch valued at Forty Dollars ($40) equivalent to Two Thousand Eight Hundred Dalasis (D2,800.00), and One Tecno Sparks Pro Mobile Phone valued at Five Thousand Dalasis (D5, 000.00).
When the case was called, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Olie Bobb, announced her appearance for the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
ASP Bobb told the court that the accused persons are charged with a capital offence, of robbery with violence, which attracts life imprisonment if they are found guilty.
Due to the Magistrates Court’s lack of jurisdiction to hear and determine capital offences, ASP Bobb requested for the matter to be to the High Court of the Gambia.
“Therefore, pursuant to section 62 of the CPC (Criminal Procedure Code) I am applying for the matter to be transferred to the Special Criminal Division of the High Court with the legal notice number two (2) 2003,” ASP Bobb told the court.
ASP Bobb also relied on Section 208 of the CPC and sought for the accused persons to be remanded at the Mile 2 Central Prison pending the hearing and determination of the case.
Magistrate Jallow then granted the application and ordered for the accused persons to be remanded at the Mile 2 Central Prison pending the hearing of the case.
“This court lacks the jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter. I am hereby transferred the matter to the High Court. The accused persons should be remanded at the Mile 2 Prison pending the hearing of the case at the High Court of the Gambia,” Magistrate Jallow ordered.
Summary of the Case Facts
The police reported that on Thursday 25th July 2024 between 02:00 a.m. towards 04:00 a.m., a group of young boys armed with cutlasses and knives attacked the residence of Abdul Lamin and Mbakey Sowe in Brufut Heights, resulting in significant property loss and the process stabbed watchman of Mbakey Sowe named Morro Ceesay who is currently admitted at Kanifing General Hospital for medical treatment.
At Abdul Lamin’s residence, police revealed that his house was ransacked by the perpetrators and his Techno Pop 5 mobile phone worth D5000.00, Solar light worth D1000.00 two wristwatches marked Cartis and Seiko worth 40 dollars each, and D30, O00.00 that was in his black bag were all forcefully taken away and in the process, he was injured on his left hand.
At Mbakey Sowe’s residence, police say the perpetrators jointly assaulted the watchman Morro Ceesay stabbed him On the left side of his ribs and vandalized the glasses to the front and back door of the house to gain entrance into the house but no valuables were taken from the house.
Police further revealed that on Sunday 28th July 2024, one of the suspects Muhammed Sowe alias DESSEH (7th accused) was arrested, and he provided information that his accomplices were lodged at Sky’s Apartment in Bijilo.
“Investigators raided the apartment and arrested the following suspects; Assan Sowe alias Sessco, (2nd accused) Sheriff Dibba alias C’ Boy (3rd accused) Ousman Ceesay alias OC (1st accused) Ousman Fatajo (5th accused) and Ida Faal (6th accused) at room “G” of the Apartment. A search was conducted and three cutlasses and a crowbar wrapped in brown paper were discovered, the CSI team picked it up for further analysis.