By Kemeseng Sanneh (Kexx)
Magistrate Muhammed Krubally has released Suwaibou Sonko, who was charged with stealing one million, three hundred and sixty-one thousand, five hundred dalasi (D1,361,500).
Suwaibou Sonko was facing the charge of “stealing by clerk” contrary to 258 of the Criminal Code. The police alleged that between February and July 2023 in Banjul, Suwaibou Sonko, who was employed as a mobile teller, stole the sum of D1,361,500 collected from one Mustapha Jallow. He pleaded not guilty. He was granted bail in the sum of D1,361 500 and was ordered to provide two Gambian sureties.
The prosecution called only two (2) witnesses in the case, both of whom are staff of the bank.
Since May 2024, the case could not proceed and the prosecution has been accorded several opportunities by the court to call witnesses, but they always requested adjournment.
On Wednesday, the prosecution asked for adjournment with the usual claims of either the witness travelled or the prosecuting officer in the case was not available.
Magistrate Krubally said the court believes that the prosecution is not serious in this case or they are not so prepared to proceed.
“In the light of the foregoing and taking into light the essence of reasonable time and on the legitimate public expectation that there must be a finality to litigation and that the current universal judicial trends cautions that cases should be expeditious all of which this court considers, I hereby strike out this matter and accordingly, the accused herein Suwaibou Sonko is accordingly discharged,” he ruled.
He added that pursuant to Section 143 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the IGP is ordered to pay D5000 Dalasis to the accused.
