Richards Upholds Lay Litigants’ Right in Law

Principal Magistrate Moses Richards on 5th October 2007, at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court said that litigants who file civil suits for redress have the right to be awarded 4% interest on their claims. He told the court that the 4% interest was automatic in law.

He indicated that most litigants do not ask for the 4% interest in their claims because they are lay persons in law. As a result, he instructed the court registrar to always make sure that litigants are awarded 4% interest on their claims when they file civil suits.

Magistrate Richards made these remarks when one Monick Mendy filed a civil suit against Jankey Sambou, defendant, claiming D26, 500, being the sum of money the plaintiff reportedly gave the defendant for the purpose of procuring a US visa for her daughter, which she failed to do.

The plaintiff told the court that the defendant has so far refunded D14, 000 from the total sum of D26, 500.

Magistrate Richards entered judgement in favour of the plaintiff, ordering the defendant to pay the plaintiff D12, 500, as well as D1000 in costs within 14 days.