10 youths were last Friday apprehended by the Western Region forestry team, charged with illegal cutting of trees and charcoal burning, contrary to Section 108 and 109 of the Forestry Act.

Abdoulie Gaye, Abubacarr Sanyang, Yaya Jallow, Mahamad Sanyang, Boto Cham, Abdourahman Sanyang,

Abdoulie Bah, Mustapha Barry, Modou L. Jallow and Alhagie Bah, are accused to have engaged in illegal cutting of trees and charcoal burning between Gidda and Busura State Forest.

Six of the accused persons are residents of Gidda, while the four are from Talokoto Village.

The six from Gidda were arraigned on Saturday at the Kombo East District Tribunal, where they pleaded guilty to the offence and admitted that the forestry team had indeed met them in the forest, armed with knives, cutlasses and axes.

However, it was later realised that the alleged offence was committed outside the jurisdiction of Kombo East, prompting Chief Alhagie Basiru Jarjue to transfer the matter to Kombo Central district tribunal, which falls under the jurisdiction.