No fever than five detainees were on Wednesday convicted and sentenced by the Banjul Magistrates’ Court presided over by Magistrate Lamin George to six months imprisonment for escaping from lawful custody.

The five convicts are Malafi Gitteh, Abdou kujabi, Alagie Drammeh, Sanna Saidy and Matchu Teah and they were arraigned charged with escaping from lawful custody contrary to section 108 of the criminal code cap 10 volume III, laws of The Gambia.

According to the facts of the case, on 25th July 2008, at about 5.30 am to 6 am at the National Drug Enforcement Agency the convicts were in detention for the suspicion of being in possession of drugs. While on lawful detention, a detainee was brought out to take his lunch from a relative, adding that the padlock and its keys were placed on the table. There then the said detainee that was brought out to take his lunch managed to steal a key. The facts of the case further stated that when he was returned to the cell he opened the cell door while the officer on duty was sleeping.

It continued that the convicts and other detainees gently walked out of the cell and ran away. Its further states that one of the detainees informed the officer on duty that the cell door had been opened and most of the detainees had escaped. It was then the matter was reported and the police at Denton Bridge  were  informed  and a search was conducted. Subsequently the five convicts were arrested and charged with the offence committed.