Magistrate Mbakeh of the Kanifing Magistrates Court has issued a stern warning to complainants against what he called wasting the time of police. He made the warning after a number of complainants who contacted the police for redress of claimed wrongs in the Law Courts later failed to co-operate with the prosecution. Mbakeh intimated that the co-operation of complainants is essential and critical for subsequent prosecution as complainants, according to him, are principal witnesses.

The magistrate yesterday remonstrated with those complainants who are in the habit of taking their grievance before the police only to opt not to pursue their cases. He warned that the practice would not be tolerated “at the face of the law.”

Magistrate Mbakeh deplored the delay the practice causes to court proceedings and stated that thenceforth the court would subpoena any complainant who fails to pursue his case after involving the police. “Anyone engaged in the practice would be charged with wasteful employment of police. He stressed that such people need to be made to feel the wrath of the law.