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Gambia:42 Sex Workers Jailed, 11 Remanded

Up to 55 alleged sex workers were last Friday arraigned before the Kanifing Magistrates Court, charged with roguishness and loitering.

Of the 30 accused persons arraigned before Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh, 18 were jailed, 10 remanded and two acquitted and discharged.

Meanwhile the remaining 25 were also on the same day arraigned before Magistrate Abdoulie Mbackeh. 24 ended up being jailed while one was remanded.

The 42 sex workers were each sentenced to a prison term of one week, while the 11 alleged sex workers who pleaded not guilty were remanded to allow the police prosecutors time to prove their case against them.

According to the facts, the office of the Commissioner of Police for Kanifing Municipal Council got information from the security council that there were certain ladies in the municipality whose act of wondering within the municipality had become a cause of nuisance. Following the tip-off the police chief of administration in the Municipality, as well as other senior police officers mounted a joint raid.

The report went on to state that on 7th March 2007, the police in the municipality, led by Chief of Operation Landing Bojang, went on patrol in the most likely places in Serekunda notorious for prostitution such as Kairaba Avenue, Westfield Junction, City Pub in Dippakunda and other areas in the Municipality. The raid led to the arrest of the accused persons who were said to be wondering in a manner that led to soliciting men for the purpose of prostitution. They were subsequently arrested and taken to Kairaba police station where they were charged with the offence of roguishness and being vagabond.

The facts added that photographs were afterwards taken to determine whether none of the accused persons engaged in pornographic activities.

Cpl 870 Touray and PC 1748 Mballow represented the IGP at the trial