By: Nicholas Bass
Principal Magistrate Mahammed Krubally of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court yesterday sentenced one Kalilu Kantehto two-year imprisonment for stealing two bundles of electrical wires at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (E.F.S.T.H).
According to the prosecution officer Inspector Saidykhan, Kanteh on 17 February 2024 at 11:00 am, entered E.F.S.T.H. through the gate of the Accident and Emergency Unit with his traveling bag but according to Kanteh, upon reaching one of the toilets to urinate, he was confronted by a security officer, who searched his bag and found two bundles of electric wires.
Inspector Saidykhhan narrated that when Kanteh entered E.F.S.T.H., it was noticed that the store window, where the materials were kept, was not locked, which gave Kantehaccess to pick up two bundles of electric wires.
Magistrate Krubally, at this juncture, said if Kanteh was notcaught by the hospital security, he would have escaped with the electric wires thereby causing another financial hardship to the hospital ”struggling both for material
and money”.
Kanteh cried for mercy from the court, saying: ”Worship, it is unfortunate that this is my first time. I am a mason at the hospital. I traveled to Basse and later when I came back, I was jobless. I beg for mercy and this being the first time, I shall never do it again. I beg for mercy for the sake of God.”
”In the premise pursuant to Section 29 (2) of the Criminal Code, I hereby shorten the sentence of theft by sentencing the convict herein Kalilu Kanteh to 2 years in prison. While in Mile Two Prison, I hereby order that the authorities therein engage him in masonry works to improve his skills,” Magistrate Krubally ruled.
He ordered that the two bundles of electric wires in possession of the prosecution be returned to the EFSTH.