The Brikama Magistrates’ Court has sentenced two men for aiding and abetting child begging.

Wurry Jallow and Alasan Kandeh from Brufut and Wellingara respectively, were on Wednesday condemned to nine month suspended sentences for adopting children in their homes and allowing them to be loitering and begging for food in the streets, matters regarded as breach of conduct and child abuse.

The two took in children on the grounds that they would be teaching them the Quran.

Magistrate Mbai, presiding, maintained that in years gone by, children within a period of three to four years do master the Holy Quran but observed that people now abuse and exploit children in the name of religion.

Upon their pleas of guilty to the charge, both were given nine month suspended sentences.