Schoolgirl Escapes Rape Attempt, Rescued by Donkey Cart Driver on Her Way Home from School

 

Schoolgirl Escapes Rape Attempt, Rescued by Donkey Cart Driver on Her Way Home from School

 

 By Ousman A. Marong

 

In a heart-pounding incident on a Wednesday afternoon, a young schoolgirl, whose identity is being protected, narrowly escaped an attempted rape in the suburbs of Kerr Chebo, located in the Upper Niumi District of the North Bank Region (NBR).

 

According to reliable sources, the girl had just finished her school day and was on her way home, accompanied by her younger schoolmates, when they encountered a menacing stranger. The situation took a terrifying turn when the unknown man approached them with malicious intentions.

 

One of the younger students who witnessed the incident provided an account of the events, stating, "As the unknown man approached, he suddenly grabbed the 13-year-old girl (whose name we won't disclose) by the neck and forcefully began to pull her away from her friends. In sheer panic, we sprinted to inform our elders at home about the dire situation. While running, we encountered a man travelling with a donkey cart and urgently conveyed the matter to him. Thankfully, we were very close to reaching home at that point."

 

The eyewitness emphasized that no sexual assault took place, and the girl remained physically unharmed. "The assailant was unsuccessful in his attempt to harm the girl. She courageously resisted his advances and put up a fierce struggle to protect herself. Observing the man with the donkey cart approaching, the assailant hastily fled into the nearby bushes," the witness added.

 

It is worth noting that students from various villages, including Kerr Alagie Yerro, Kerr Chebo, Kerr Sidiki, Malick Nana, Chiller Jurunku, Prince, Bafuloto, Ksowa, and many others, come to Kerr Chebo to attend school. The distance between these remote villages and the school in Kerr Chebo often spans over 5 kilometres, traversing rugged, bushy roads.

Woman 49 Convicted For Assault

 

Photo: Ba-Amidou Njie (the victim)

 

 

By Ousman A Marong

The principal magistrate Anna O. Mendy of the Essau magistrate's court has convicted and sentenced one Fatou Joof of M’bollet-Ba village in Lower Niumi District (NBR), to a fine of five thousand dalasi (5000), in default to serve one year imprisonment for assaulting one Ba-Amidou Njie.

The court further ordered the culprit to pay one hundred and fifty thousand dalasi (150,000), as a compensation to the victim failure of which will see her to serve another 2-year jail term.

Madam Joof, conviction and sentencing came after the court found her guilty on a single count of assault causing actual bodily harm to Ba-Amidou Njie.

According to the particulars of offence revealed that Fatou Joof on or about 20 January 2023 at M’bollet-Ba village in Lower Nuimi District of North Bank Region (NBR), assaulted Ba-Amidou Njie, a 16-Year-Old boy with a stick all over his body, injured him on his right eye and she pleaded guilty to the charged.

At that juncture, the court ordered the prosecutor to narrate the facts, which he did and tendered a bunch of exhibits.

Among them, a bunch of photos showing the face of the victim as A1-A3. A medical certificate bearing the name of Ba-Amidou Njie of M’bollet-Ba village dated 25 January 2023 as AA.

A voluntary statement of the accused person Fatou Joof as A5 and A cautionary statement of the accused as A6.

The accused Fatou Joof, did not objected to the admissibility of the exhibits. She further called by court to react to the facts as narrated by the prosecution. She reacted to the facts in the affirmative.

Before the sentenced was passed on the convict, she begged the court to temper justice with mercy.

However, the trial magistrate, told the court that, the convict madam Joof, did not waste court's time, and indeed remorseful and she has no previous conviction

In passing her sentencing, magistrate Mendy, said: "I am, therefore, satisfied that the accused intended to plead guilty. Her guilty plea to my mind is direct voluntary and unequivocal. I am further satisfied that fact's narrated has articulated the ingredients of the offence to warrant a conviction.. I accordingly fine you Fatou Joof, guilty as charged.

I, therefore, fine you Fatou Joof to a fine of five thousand dalasi in default to serve one year in prison. And a compensation of one hundred and fifty thousand dalasi to the victim Ba-Amidou Njie, in default to serve two years in prison. All the sentences shall run consecutive.

She reminds the convict of her right to appeal.

 

 

Woman 49 Remanded For Allegedly Beating A 16-Year-Old Causing Him Serious Bodily Harm

Photo: Ba-Ahmedou Njie (victim).

By Ousman A. Marong 

Essau Magistrate's Court presided over by the Principal Magistrate Anna O. Mendy has on Monday 30th January 2023 remanded one Fatou Joof of Mbollet Bah to the country's main central prison (Mile ll).

The trial Magistrate Mendy, further ordered that the accused be remanded in custody pending his re-appearance at the Essau Magistrate court on the 7th of February, 2023. Ms.

Joof, who should be between the age of 49 - 50, is a resident of Mbollet Bah in the lower Niumi District, North Bank Region (NBR), was slammed with a single count charge of assault causing serious bodily harm. 

Police prosecuting Officer Inspector Omar Manka alleged that the incident happened on Friday 20th January 2023 at Mbollet Bah village in the lower Niumi District (NBR), the accused person Fatou Joof unlawfully hits a 16-year-old boy called Ba-Ahmedou with a stick eye causing him serious bodily harm.

However, Ms. Joof, who was unrepresented in court by a lawyer succumbed to the charges when the charge was read to her in English and Wollof. "The matter came up this afternoon. 

"The charge was read over to the woman. The woman is charged with assault causing bodily harm under section 228 of the criminal code. The charge was read to her in English language and was translated into Wollof, the language she chose and understood well. She reacted and admitted assaulting the boy all over his body including his right eye and arm. A plea of guilty was recorded. The facts were narrated, pictures were tendered, a medical certificate was tendered too and all those documents were admitted in the evidence without her (Fatou Joof's), objection. The prosecution partly narrated facts and apply for an adjournment to make the victim available before the court. According to him, the victim was taken to the hospital by his mother for an appointment. Based on that and since the accused person already pleaded guilty I order for her remanded at mile ll central prison pending continuous facts narration and if possible conviction and sentencing. I have adjourned the matter to the 7th of February, 2023," said the trial Magistrate Mendy.

Woman Brutally Beats 16-Year-Old Causing Him Serious Bodily Harm

 

Photo: Ba-Ahmidu Njie (Victim)

 

By Ousman A. Marong

 

Fatou Joof, a woman believed to be between the age of 49th - 50th from Mbollet Bah, a village in the Lower Niumi District, NBR, was on Friday 20th January 2023 arrested by the Barra, police for allegedly hitting a 16-Year-Old boy by the name Ba-Ahmidu Njie with a stick on the face leaving with a third-degree injury in the eye.

 

Abie Nyan, the mother of the victim alleged that the woman (Fatou Joof), hit her son with a stick in the eye and hand-leaving her male child with third-degree injuries in the eye and on the hand.

 

"Fatou Joof is in the habit of stopping my kids to fetch water from the nearby public tap next to her compound on the highway. She has since stopped them (my kids), from fetching water from the public tap belonging to all of us (the villagers). Her only reason was that the tap is next to her compound. We (the villagers), normally pay a monthly contribution fee thus enabling us to pay for the NAWEC water bill. Before the incident occurred I reported the matter to Alkalo (village head), on several occasions. My last report to the Alkalo was when she (Fatou Joof), threatened to kill my elder daughter, Isatou Njie, in my absence. She told my daughter your life is in my hands and if you are not careful of me I will soon kill you. The Alkalo himself told me that was too much and advised me to report the matter to the police. Upon reporting the matter, the Barra, police immediately wanted to arrest her but again I intervened simply because it was the same day she (Fatou Joof), was to be wed. If I allow the police to arrest her people will assume that it was because I was not wed so I was playing grief and endless co-wife hatred on her. She's in the habit of doing such and I am with believe that she will again repeat it. It was on Friday morning, when I when to Medina Kanuma (my home village), to attend our usual "Komping" contribution and assigned my kids to fetch water before my return. As they were fetching water Fatou Joof came out of her compound to hit my son with a heavy stick on his face," explained the mother of a 16-Year-Old boy.

 

The Barra, Police arrested the woman on the complaint of Abie Nyan, the victim's mother and a native of Medina Kanuma village who is married to Baboucarr Njie in Mbollet Bah. Abie is currently divorced by Baboucarr and Fatou Joof is the current wife staying with the husband (Baboucarr Njie). Fatou works at the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources.

 

Confirming the story, the Deputy police spokesperson, ASP, Muhammed Y. Darboe, said: "Indeed the story happens. The lady assaulted the boy causing bodily harm and she is currently detained helping the police in their investigation."

 

 

I Refused To Endorse President Barrow, Because His Leadership Style Is Not Working And Is Failing - Ebrima Tabora Manneh

 

Photo: Ebrima T. Manneh, PAP Leader.

 

 By Ousman A. Marong

 

The Secretary-General and leader of the opposition People's Alliance Party (PAP), Ebrima Tabora Manneh, in an exclusive radio interview on Niumi FM's "Eyeball Show" on Sunday 1st January 2023 anchored by Ousman A. Marong, & Mam Jarra Camara, said he (Ebrima Tabora Manneh), refused to endorse president Adama Barrow and his NPP party upon the rejection of his party's formation by the IEC because the president's leadership style was not working and is failing.

 

"It would be wrong for me to be critical of the president and say that he is not leading the country very well and that he has failed the nation and at the same time to jump and say I endorsed him so let's go. Then I would be fooling myself. Until now I haven't seen any improvement that convinces me to say I endorsed him;" he said.

 

The new journey politician said people thought that he was going to endorse the president during the December 4th, 2021 presidential election showing his party's rejection by the electoral body (IEC).

 

"A lot of people were saying that we were a front to the president and his NPP party because we knew each other and I told people that the president was my brother and we knew each other because we have spent a lot of time together in school days. We come to Barra together we spend the night together, and weekends together so I gave him maximum respect for that, secondly, he is the president, but when it comes to leadership and the country that is a different ball game," said Ebrima Tabora Manneh.

 

"His leadership style is not appreciated by me. The way he is governing is causing us a lot of problems and the government is failing. So for me, I gave him respect for those two things and that is being a brother and being the president. The country is bigger than the NPP and bigger than me. Until now I haven't seen any improvement that convinced me to say I endorsed him.

 

Readers may recall that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), on November 7th, 2022 announced the registration of the People's Alliance Party (PAP), in the country under section 105 of the electoral law (per amended), making it a total number of 19th political parties on the nation's political stand.

 

Mr. Manneh's (PAP), party is headquartered on 3rd Grant Street in Banjul.

 

He (Ebrima T. Manneh), is ready to brush shoulders with fellow politicians.

 

On Weather PAP To Contesting The Local Government Election Or Not:

 

"We don't want to put in a candidate just for the sake of filling it. We don't want to contest just for the sake of contesting. We have to make sure that we have a candidate that people like. It has to come from the grassroots level. I also prefer a candidate who can deliver and would have a support base. Some political parties are in just for the sake of being into politics or registering a party, but they are not very serious about it. You get others that are serious but they have weaknesses here and there. Our style of politics is very unique and different from that of the NPP, UND, and all the other existing political parties," concluded PAP leader Ebrima Tabora Manneh.

Father Remanded for allegedly Beating Daughter to death

Photo: Magistrate Anna O. Mendy

 

By Ousman A. Marong

The Essau Magistrate's Court presided over by the Principal Magistrate Anna O. Mendy has on Thursday transferred the murder case involving one Ousman Gaye, accused of beating his 7-year-Old Daughter Mariama Gaye to death at Kerr Sait Cham village in the lower Niumi District, North Bank Region (NBR).

The trial Magistrate Mendy, further ordered that the accused be remanded in custody pending his re-appearance at the High court in Banjul.

Mr. Gaye, a resident of Kerr Sait Cham slammed with a single-count charge of murder.

Police prosecuting Officer Inspector Kebba Ceesay alleged that the incident happened on December 29^th, 2022, at Kerr Sait Cham village in Lower Niumi District, North Bank Region (NBR), the accused person Ousman Gaye unlawfully beaten his seven-year-old Daughter by the name Mariama Gaye, with an object which resulted to her death.

However, Mr. Gaye, who was unrepresented in court by a lawyer denied any culpability when the charge was read to him.

At this juncture, prosecuting Officer Inspector Ceesay, applied for the matter to be transferred to the high court, because it attracts a death sentence or life imprisonment. He further urged the court to remand the accused person.

The presiding Mendy upheld the prosecution's application and finally transferred the matter to the high court. She further ordered that the accused Mr. Gaye should remand pending his appearance at the high court.

Sami Boy Convicted For Setting Compatriot Alight

By Ousman A Marong 

The Essau magistrate court has convicted and sentenced one Lamin Bob to a fine of five hundred thousand dalasis (500,000), in default to serve 2-years in prison after he was found guilty of pouring petrol on one Sulayman Ceesay and setting him on fire in Sami village (NBR).

Presiding Magistrate, Anna O. Mendy, however, further ordered the convict to pay a of fine of five hundred thousand dalasis as compensation to the victim in default to serve two years jail term. Both jail terms are to run consecutively.

The convict was further reminded of his right to appeal. Mr. Bob was slammed with a single-count charge of assault causing grievous bodily harm. 

According to the indictment filed by the police prosecutors have revealed that the incident happened on October 19th at Sami village, in Lower Nuimi District (NBR).

It could be recalled that on October 25th Lamin Bob, unlawfully poured petrol on Sulayman Ceesay and lit a fire on his body causing him grievous bodily harm. When the charge was read to him, by the court clerk and interpreted to him in Wollof by the court interpreter, Mr. Bob pleaded guilty to the charge.

“The Facts couldn’t be narrated by the prosecution on the same day due to the victim’s critical conditions and admission at the Essau District Hospital. The matter was adjourned to the 7th of November 2022 for fact narration by the prosecution. The matter was subsequently adjourned due to the victim's condition and admission at the same hospital,” said the Presiding Magistrate, Anna O. Mendy.

She said the victim was finally discharged and the facts were narrated by the police prosecuting Officer on 14th November 2022.

“After fact narration, the accused person maintained his guilty plea and was accordingly convicted as charged.”

In passing her sentenced, the presiding Magistrate Mendy considered certain factors such as the antecedence of the convict and indeed remorsefully. 

The trial Magistrate further stated that the convict is young, and he is a first-time offender and the court believes he will avoid falling foul of the law, and be an active law-abiding citizen if given a second opportunity. 

The Magistrate has cited the provision of section 29th subsection 2&3 and section 31, subsection 4th of the criminal code, section 259 and 266 of the CPC, which served as mitigating factors when person sentences on convict especially when finds or compensation was awarded.

“The court further averted its mind to the condition or what would have become of the victim if there was no stagnant water on the road for him to fall on and turn off the fire on him off his clothes. The outcome would have been deadly if there was no said stagnant water on the road. The court has also taken note of the increasing crime rates most especially among youths within our communities, therefore, there is a need to curb or reduce such unlawful and immoral behavior in our communities,” urged Magistrate Mendy.

She continues: "There is no doubt that the convict has committed an offense against the criminal code, therefore, the court hereby invokes its discretion provided under section 29th subsection 2&3 of the criminal code cited above in the person of Lamin Bob, to a fine of Five thousand dalasis (D5000) in default to serve 2-years imprisonment and the compensation of five hundred thousand dalasis in default to serve 2-years imprisonment.