Omar Sanneh and Bakary Jasseh, who have been standing trial on charges of being in possession of firearms and ammunition, were yesterday convicted and sentenced to two months imprisonment by Principal Magistrate Moses Richards of the Bundung Magistrates’ Court.

The duo were charged, alongside Aziz Tamba, former Deputy National Youth Mobiliser of APRC, who was convicted earlier on, after he pleaded guilty to the charges.

According to the particulars of the offense, on or about December 6, Aziz Tamba, Bakary Jasseh and Omar Sanneh were found in possession of a pistol with eight-life rounds of ammunition at Cape Point, Bakau, without a license. The two have changed their plea to guilt.

In his plea for mitigation, Edu Gomez, Counsel for both Sanneh and Jasseh, said his clients are youngmen with no previous criminal records. He told the court that they have now decided to change their plea to guilt in order not to waste the Courts’ time. He urged the court to tamper justice with mercy by not imposing a custodial sentence and be leanient to them in handing down the judgement.

In his judgement, Principal Magistrate Richards said the two convicts were personnel of the security services and must have known the rules governing arms and ammunition. He pointed out that they failed to adhere to the law.

He therefore, sentenced them to two-month imprisonment each, of which they have already served in custody. He ordered them to pay a fine of D10,000 each, in default to serve another 12-month imprisonment.

They were later given court bail with the sum of D20,000 each, with one Gambian surety pending the payment of the aforesaid fine.