At a time when a bag of rice poses to become a luxury for the average Gambian, a magistrates’court in Western Region has sent a youth to jail without any option of fine for stealing a bag of rice.

Lamin Fatty, 26, will spend three months at the State Central Prison in Banjul and will as well be subjected to hard labour for stealing a bag of rice valued at D825.

Before the sentence was passed on Wednesday, the convict appealed to the court for mercy, as according to him, his action was unintentional.

But magistrate John Njie, presiding, warned Lamin to desist from acts such as stealing.

In another development, one Sankung Sabally was on Wednesday charged with stealing D6,652 worth of cement blocks.

The alleged theft occured in April of this year in Brikama town.

He is expected back in court following his denial of the charges leveled against him.