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.