Magistrate B.Y. Camara of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court has pointed out that withdrawal of criminal cases by complainants could be in the best interest of social cohesion but that the act sends a wrong signal to the criminal community.

Despite admitting the fact that prevention of certain cases from degenerating into a full-blown and lengthy litigation could help in building and fostering cordial relations between parties involved in a dispute, magistrate Camara elucidated that it’s undoubtedly at the discretion of the court to endorse such.

The learned magistrate was addressing one Abdoulie Corr who sought to withdraw the D28,000 lawsuit he instituted against one Dawda Ceesay.

Ceesay, a self-styled marabout, was accused of obtaining D28,000 from Corr on false pretences.

Meanwhile according to magistrate Camara, there is a need to protect the society from the sordid deeds of cheats and swindlers. “We have to send the right signal to would-be criminals to save the society,” he added.