Having pleaded guilty to stealing 200 copies of the Daily Observer and 25 incomplete ones, Kajali Mass, Alieu Demba, Sulayman Sowe, and Lamin Bojang, all employees of the Daily Observer, were yesterday 2nd March 2009, convicted and sentenced to two months imprisonment without the option of a fine by Acting Principal Magistrate Sainabou Wadda-Ceesay of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.

The convicts, who were arrested in the early hours of Monday 23rd February 2009 for allegedly stealing copies of newspaper of the company, all pleaded guilty whilst Destiny Omos, a newspaper vendor pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on Friday 27th February 2009.

In their plea of mitigation, the convicts begged the court to temper justice with mercy.

In her judgement, Magistrate Wadda-Ceesay told the court that she was disappointed in the sense that the convicts were trusted by their employer and that they have breached the trust bestowed on them. The sentenced follows the earlier narration of the facts to the court by the prosecutor Cadet Inspector Mballow.

Magistrate Wadda-Ceesay subsequently adjourned the case to the 16th March 2009 for the trial of Destiny Omos, who pleaded not guilty.