Three young men accused of violent robbery have received a severe warning from Honorable Justice Ebrima Jaiteh, the head of the Gambia’s High Court: they might spend the rest of their lives behind bars.
The charges against Mustapha Sonko, Ebrima Drammeh, and Ebrima Barry are robbery with violence, which is against section 273 subsection 2 of the Gambia’s amended Criminal Code Volume 3.

The prosecution’s case states that on April 14, 2023, in Sukuta, West Coast Region, the accused individuals forcibly robbed Ebrima Bah. They fled with D4,000 (four thousand dalasis) in cash, a mobile phone identified as INNIX INZIN, valued at D2,000 (two thousand dalasis), and a pair of shoes worth D900 (nine hundred dalasis).
In a prior development, on July 17, 2023, Honorable Justice Jaiteh directed the State to file an indictment against each of the accused people by the end of October 2023 and granted each one a bond of D15,000.00. In the event that the State missed this deadline, Justice Jaiteh stressed that the accused would get their bail bond back.

On October 31, 2023, the matter was brought back to order, but the State had not filed an indictment, and state counsel was noticeably missing. Honorable Justice Jaiteh remained firm in his refusal to clear and release the defendants notwithstanding the lack of an indictment and the state attorneys’ presence.

“The police and state law office are not serious, which is why they haven’t filed any charges against you. I’ll let you go if they don’t file anything. However, the law of Karma will catch you again, and I will send you to jail if you return. “Since the matter originated in the Magistrate’s Court, the state law office is not serious; they have not been appearing in court and they are not doing any action. Why would you observe someone walking with his cell phone and money and assault that person? If there hadn’t been a victim here, I would have left you guys. Violence and robbery are not acceptable in our nation. Hon. Justice Jaiteh warned the accused, “If you are found guilty, I will give you the maximum sentence, and you will be in prison for the rest of your life.”

Honorable Justice Jaiteh stressed that he was not going to dismiss the matter from court, despite what seemed to be a lack of commitment on the part of the state.

Judge Jaiteh said that he intended to give the state additional time and to increase the accused people’s bail.

If the accused people were to do the same crimes again, Justice Jaiteh said firmly that he would put them behind bars.

“Do you know how much someone paid for their phone when you see them? Do you know how those who seem to have money got it? You must be lying if you believe you can perpetrate a crime and then purchase your freedom from Justice Jaiteh. because you’re tinkering with fire. Because I will imprison you for the remainder of your existence.

“Now, people are even hesitant to leave their homes because of individuals like you. If you conduct poorly, you will be treated severely. Even though the state is not taking this case seriously, I will not dismiss it. Because if I do, you will be able to return to Sukuta and attack again. The Honorable Justice Jaiteh stated, “You should have been focused on your education by attending school, but instead you are robbing people.”