One Sanna Saidy yesterday appeared before Justice Joseph Wowo of the high court appealing against his conviction and the 15 years jail sentence imposed on him by a lower court.

The appellant was arrested at Barra village, Niumi in the North Bank region of The Gambia on April 21, 2008 with 2kg, 540grams (8 bundles) of cannabis sativa. The appellant was sentenced to pay the sum of D1,000,000.00 or in default to serve 5 years jail term. He was further sentenced to 10 years mandatory jail term with hard labour.

In his appeal, Sanna Saidy declared that the sentence imposed on him was harsh and excessive and he begged the court for leniency and reduction of his sentence. Justice Wowo then called on the students in the court to take their education seriously, noting that if they are looking for someone who has wasted their lives, the appellant was a typical example.
 
Justice Wowo said the appellant is just 19 years and if his appeals should fail, he will spend the next 15 years in prison. The matter was then adjourned to July 24, 2009 for the principal state counsel, S.H. Barkum to reply to the appellant's submissions.