A Chinese national was on Monday convicted and sentenced to four months imprisonment with the option of US$1,000 fine by Magistrate Mboto of the Banjul Magistrates Court.

Weiming Cai, 40, was convicted and sentenced after pleading guilty to the charge of illegal exportation of forest products, contrary to Section 25 of the Forest Regulation Act, Cap 61 Volume 1107 Laws of The Gambia 1990.

Frank, as he is fondly called, exported forest products such as timber abroad without a valid license in 2007 to 2008 in the city of Banjul and at diverse places of the country, according to the prosecution.

In her judgment, Magistrate Mboto considered the fact that the convict was a first time offender and has shown remorse to the court. She accordingly convicted and sentenced him.

The crime management coordinator of the Gambia Police Force, Ebrima Dibba, represented the IGP in the trial.