Convicted Thief Sold D35,000 Motorbike for D3,000

Image is only illustrative

By Fatoumata Konteh

The Kanifing Magistrate’s Court has fined Mbye Ceesay D100,000 for stealing a motorbike valued at D35,000 in Kololi and selling it for just D3,000.

Ceesay, who pleaded guilty to the theft, admitted selling the 'Jakarta' motorbike belonging to Muhammed Jallow to a man identified as Badou. The motorbike has not been recovered.

Magistrate F.J. Camara sentenced Ceesay to pay a D100,000 fine, with one month’s imprisonment in default of payment. He was also ordered to pay D35,000 in compensation to the complainant, with an additional month in prison if he fails to pay. The default sentences are to run consecutively.

The convict was charged with theft, contrary to Section 226 of the Criminal Offences Act 2025. The prosecution was represented by Sergeant E. Camara on behalf of the Inspector General of Police.

According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on 7th August 2026, when Jallow parked his Jakarta motorbike, registration number MC BJL 1002B, beside his shop in Kololi before leaving to attend to other engagements.

Upon returning, Jallow discovered that the motorbike was missing. A review of CCTV footage reportedly showed Ceesay pushing the motorbike away, enabling the complainant to identify him.

The prosecution told the court that Jallow reported the incident to the Kololi Police Station. On 22nd September 2026, while travelling in a commercial vehicle from Latrikunda towards Kololi Tarwan, he spotted Ceesay and attempted to apprehend him, but the suspect escaped.

A few days later, Ceesay was reportedly spotted at Kololi Tippa Garage, where members of the public helped apprehend him before he was taken to the police station.

At the station, Ceesay was cautioned and charged with theft. He admitted the offence and told police that he had sold the motorbike to Badou for D3,000.

When the charge was read and interpreted to him in a language he understood, Ceesay pleaded guilty and accepted the prosecution’s account of the incident.

In mitigation, he described the theft as a mistake, insisting that stealing the motorbike had not been his intention. He appealed for leniency, telling the court that he was a married man with a child and asking for forgiveness.

Following the presentation of the facts, the prosecution applied for D35,000 in compensation to be awarded to Jallow under Section 191 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

In delivering her judgment, Magistrate Camara considered Ceesay’s early guilty plea, remorse, and family circumstances as mitigating factors. She noted that his plea had saved the court’s time but stressed that offenders should not escape punishment, even though everyone deserves a second chance.

The court relied on Sections 32 and 34(3) of the Criminal Offences Act 2025 and imposed a non-custodial sentence under Section 35(1)(a) of the same Act.

Consequently, Ceesay was fined D100,000 and ordered to pay D35,000 in compensation to the complainant. Failure to pay either amount would attract each one-month prison term, with the two default sentences to be served consecutively.