Two Women Arraigned For The Second Time

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Two women were recently arraigned before Senior Magistrate Abdoulie Mbacke of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing from a dwelling house.

Aji Kumba Ndure pleaded guilty, while Ndey Korka Ndong, who was represented by Lawyer Fafa Mbye, pleaded not guilty.

The two accused persons were arraigned six years ago before former Magistrate Moses Richards for a similar case and were accordingly convicted.

Since Aji Kumba Ndure pleaded guilty on 23rd September 2009, the case was adjourned to 28th September 2009, when she was convicted and sentenced.

In her mitigation, Aji Kumba Ndure begged the court to temper justice with mercy. As she testified, she was under the influence of Satan. She told the court that she has a newly-born baby girl. Also she told the court that her mother who used to help her had passed away.

Magistrate Mbacke further said he had heard the plea of mitigation by the convict, but maintained that she deserves some punishment.

He went on to say that, crimes are so rampant that police always patrol around Kanifing Estate. He said most of the criminals from Kanifing Estate are men, noting that female criminals have also joined the bandwagon.

According to him, the convict had stolen the university certificate of the complainant which is of little use to her.

Cadet-Inspector Mballow told the court that the whole value of items stolen was D500, 000 and D300, 000, which he said, had been recovered and that D200, 000 worth of jewellery was not recovered.

The convict at this juncture told the court that the said jewellery was sold to a man who was arrested by the police, but was never arraigned before a court of law.

She was subsequently sentenced to eighteen months in prison, with hard labour and ordered to compensate the complainant the sum of D200, 000, in default to serve nine months in prison.

Both sentences would run concurrently if the convict fails to pay the compensation.

The case against the co-accused, Ndey Korka Ndong, who pleaded not guilty, continues.