By Kemo Kanyi
Foreign nationals were on Monday sentenced by the Brikama Magistrates’ Court for importing medicinal products into the country without authorization.
They were each fined D50, 000 in default to serve two years imprisonment.
The convicts, namely Soriba Kargbo, Oluwasegun Owolabi, Clever Uduak, Alicai Adadae, Precious Effiong, and Jackson Godstime, hailed from Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Ghana.
In delivering her judgment, Principal Magistrate Anna O. Mendy said there must be a concerted effort and collective responsibility to mitigate the unauthorized importation of medicines, describing the trend as alarming.
She stressed that the “devastating and horrific effect” of the importation of medicines into The Gambia without authorizationfrom the MCA invokes the need for incapacitation by the court to serve as deterrence to future offenders.
“Despite taking into consideration that the convicts are all first-time offenders and upon the strength of their pleas in mitigation, I shall temper justice with mercy by imposing a minimum sentence,” she stated.
Magistrate Mendy said the provisions of sections 29 and 31 of the Criminal Code, and sections 259 and 266 of the Criminal Procedure Code are aimed at mitigating sentences and even options of payments in installments in instances where fines are awarded.
“In light of the foregoing, this Honourable Court hereby invokes section 29 of the Criminal Code and sentences the convicts to a fine of D50, 000.00 each in default to serve a jail term of two years. This is my judgment and parties are reminded of their right to appeal,” she stated