Two persons; namely, Omar Gitteh and Lamin Camaso were last Friday, 20th April 2012 convicted and sentenced by Principal Magistrate Foster of the Bundung Magistrates’ Court on two counts of criminal offences of attempted rape and assault causing grievous bodily harm, all contrary to the Laws of The Gambia.

The particulars of the offence on count one revealed that on the 2nd February 2011 at Brufut Beach, Kombo North District of the West Coast Region, the two convicts jointly attempted to rape one Isatou Jammeh, thereby committed an offence.

On count two, it revealed that on the same date and place the convicts jointly assaulted one Ebrima Jallow with a broken bottle causing him grievous bodily harm, thereby committed an offence.

The convicts however pleaded not guilty on both counts and during the trial, the prosecutor handling the case, 1st Class 3466 Sawaneh called six witnesses and the convicts on the other hand called three witnesses to defend their case.

However, the prosecution was able to prove their case beyond reasonable doubts to secure the conviction of the accused persons. In their plea of mitigation, the convicts begged the court to temper justice with mercy; that the offences they committed were not intentional and that they are first time offenders.

Sentence

The convicts were each sentenced to a mandatory jail term of one year and five months on count one, while on count two, Lamin Camaso, was sentenced to a mandatory jail term of one year with hard labour and the first accused, Omar Gitteh was acquitted and discharged.

Meanwhile, the convicts were further ordered to compensate D5, 000 each to the complainant for attempted rape, whileLamin Camaso was ordered to compensate D12, 000 to the complainant.

However, the prosecutor, 1st Class 3466 Sawaneh made the application on Section 145, Subsection 1 of the CPC for the convicts to compensate each of the complainants, and his application was granted by the presiding magistrate.