Justice Joseph Wowo of the High Court in Banjul recently adjourned the Criminal Appeal case involving one Ansumana Manneh and the state to July 20, 2009, when judgement would be delivered.

The appellant had been convicted by the Kanifing Magistrates Court on two counts of shop breaking and stealing. He was sentenced to pay the sum of D20,000 or in default to serve a 2-year jail term. He was further ordered to pay the sum of D5,000 as compensation to one Babucarr Jallow (the complainant) or in default to serve 6 months imprisonment.

The appellant, in his grounds of appeal, contended that though he is guilty of the offence, the court should reduce the sentence imposed on him by the Lower Court. The State Counsel, Nebo Jones, however, submitted that the lower court had been lenient with the convict when in giving him a sentence of one year for an offence which carries 7 years.

She also asserted that the same is true in the case of the second count, when he was sentenced to pay the sum of D10,000 or in default to serve a one-year jail term.