Kemo Jawneh, a resident of Old Jeshwang, was, yesterday, convicted and sentenced to six months of imprisonment with hard labour by Senior Magistrate Abdoulie Mbacke of the Kanifing Magistrate's Court.

The accused was found guilty after being tried for an attempted robbery, contrary to Section 274 of the Criminal Code.

According to the particulars of the offence, on or before October 15, 2007, at the Kanifing South in the Kanifing Municipality, the accused attempted to rob one Roman Bitop.

Delivering his judgement, the presiding magistrate said that the court had taken a meticulous look at the evidence given by the prosecution and their witnesses as well as that of the accused person.

He said the court was of the view that the accused person was guilty. He noted that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. He said the court based its decision on the fact that the accused alledged that when he got to the complainant, he immediately held her hand and demanded his money and secondly, the prosecution had called on two witnesses to testify, whereas the accused person failed to produce any witnesses.

In his plea for mitigation, the accused appealed to the presiding magistrate to forgive him, adding that if he had known that things will go like that he would not have done it. He said while in detention, he was informed that his mother passed away and he was also sick.

"I am begging the court to forgive me. I regret what I did," he pleaded.

The presiding magistrate, at that juncture, stated that he will not temper mercy with justice for any criminal act of this nature.