One Abdoulie Gibba, an employee of the Maintenance Service Agency in Kuto, was recently convicted and sentenced to a four-month custodial sentence by Senior Magistrate Abdoulie Mbacke of the Kanifing Magistrates Court following his own plea of guilt.

Gibba was charged with stealing six motor batteries from his place of work in Kotu on March 25, 2009. Delivering his judgement, Senior Magistrate Mbacke told the accused that despite his plea of mitigation, he deserved some form of punishment to deter others.

According to him, the defendant’s action was a betrayal of trust. He also pointed out the wider possible repercussions of the employees stealing from their employers. “If other workers had done the same thing, it could have brought the institution to a standstill, thus causing hardship for other innocent workers,” he said.

Continuing his magisterial sermon, he further emphasised that one should try to be content with what they have, adding that it is greed which normally leads people to commit such acts. “Honesty is the best policy in life,” he emphasised.