By Dawda M. Jallow
Mustapha Sowe charged with a two-count charge of offence – shop breaking and stealing was yesterday denied bail by Magistrate Thomas Touray of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.
The particulars of the offence alleged that Mustapha Sowe did on the 18th of October 2024, at Westfield around 03:00 am onwards, in the Kanifing Municipal Council of the Republic of the Gambia, break into shop of Muhammed Kebbeh through the roof with intent to commit felony therein to wit: stealing.
It was equally alleged in count two that Mustapha on the same date at Westfield in the Kanifing Municipal Council, stole the following items;
Five HP Laptop valued at D42,500, one ECC PC Laptop valued at D15,000, one Apple Laptop valued at D8,500, one Acer Laptop charger valued at D500 , one Toshiba Laptop valued at D3,000, two Bluetooth headsets valued at D1000, fiscal cash of D8,900 totalling Seventy-Nine Thousand Four Hundred Dalasi (D79,400) all properties of Muhammed Kebbeh.
The accused denied the allegation, Sergeant 4370 E Jallow who announced his appearance for IGP applied for an adjournment to secure his witnesses and strongly objected to bail for the accused, stating that the matter is still under investigation as the recovery of the stolen items is ongoing.
He added that the accused has been cooperating and is helping the police with the recoveries. “Granting him bail will handicap the recovery of the remaining items. We also believe that the accused might not have acted alone and that when granted bail he may escape. We have promised that we will produce the accused whenever needed by this court”, the prosecuting officer explained.
His application was granted by Magistrate Touray who stated that “The court will take a short adjournment date to review the application on the next and as it is now the accused is denied bail. Case adjourned to 7th November 2024 at 1:30 pm.”