The Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, presided over by Magistrate Janneh on 28th August 2009, convicted and sentenced one James Tannu for housing breaking and stealing.

He was sentenced on count one to a fine of D1500, in default to serve two months in prison and on count two, he was fined D1000, in default to serve one month in prison. Both sentences are to run concurrently.

According to the facts as narrated by the Prosecuting Officer, Inspector Fadara, “the complainant Lawrence Jack has office attached to his living room, and that he closed his office and went to bed”. He adduced that the convict went and broke the window of the office, entered and took away the complainant’s laptop.

He further stated that the complainant’s wife later discovered that the window was broken and informed the complainant who reported the matter to the Kanifing Police Station. He went on to say that, two of the complainant’s boys had a tip-off and saw the convict with the laptop trying to dispose of it.

Inspector Fadara at length narrated that after a search, the convict was apprehended and escorted to Kanifing Police Station where he confessed of stealing the laptop, leading to its recovery by the police.

In his plea of mitigation, the convict craved the court’s indulgence to temper justice with mercy.