By Nicholas Bass
An army officer, Alpha Mendy, has been convicted of stealing church conference money on 26th July 2023 at the BrikamaMagistrate’s Court, presided over by Magistrate FatouDarboe.
The convict, Alpha Mendy pleaded not guilty to three (3) counts of theft pressed against him during his plea of guilty or not guilty. But exhibit PE1 affirmed that the convict on behalf of Bishop Samuel Thomas received an amount of D50,000being payment for a church conference in Europe from Mathew Mendy and witnessed by Ndella Dacoster.
Magistrate Fatou Darboe recalled the testimony of PW 2, Mathew Mendy, and said that his brother in Spain sent him D50,000 through the wife of Ndella Dacoster for him (PW 2) to pay for a Church conference in Europe. Magistrate continued that the convict confirmed to Mathew Mendy the payment and that Ndella Dacoster’s wife made the payment, citing that the convict told Mathew Mendy that he received his payment on behalf of Pastor Samuel Thomas who was out of the jurisdiction.
However, Mathew Mendy made a second payment OF D50,000 to Pastor Samuel Thomas (PW1) in the presence of the convict, Alpha Mendy. But the scheduled European Church conference failed.
According to the first defense witness (name withheld) twenty (20) people paid their monies to Pastor Samuel Thomas and were unable to travel for the Church conference in Europe, noting that they are suing Pastor Samuel Thomas for their monies to be refunded.
Magistrate Darboe recalled that Mathew Mendy said that Pastor Samuel Thomas refunded an amount of D45, 000 and the convict, Alpha Mendy, also refunded D20,000 to him.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Darboe in her discretionary powers sentenced Alpha Mendy to a fine of D10,000 in default to serve 2-years imprisonment with compensation of D30,000 to Mathew Mendy in default to serve two years imprisonment.
