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Gambia: Notorious thief jailed

Ousman Nyassi, a native of Ziguinchor in the Senegalese southern region of Casamance, was on Wednesday convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment by Senior Magistrate Amina Saho-Ceesay of the Bundung Magistrates’ Court, after pleading guilty of stealing, contrary to the Laws of The Gambia.

According to the particulars of the offence, Ousman Nyassi on 22 May 2007 at Bijilo in Kanifing Municipality broke a container and stole a large quantity of unbroken and broken tiles, swimming pool tiles, and door frames, valued at D3,630, being the properties of one Aunty Jainaba Lamin.

Ousman Nyassi who pleaded guilty of the offence against him, begged the court to temper justice with mercy, claiming that he has a wife and children who depend on him for survival.

In her ruling, Senior Magistrate Amina Saho-Ceesay said Nyassi is a notorious offender who was charged and convicted six times in the jurisdiction. She said such an individual is a threat to the public and therefore should be imprisoned for the safety of the society.
She then sentenced him to five years imprisonment with hard labour without any option of a fine. The Magistrate also ordered the deportation of the convict upon completion of his jail term.

In another development, Ousman Nyassi is due to appear in the same court on charges of unlawful breaking. However, he pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.