Magistrate Jahateh infuriated

Magistrate Sagarr Jahateh of the Kanifing Magistrates Court has stressed that careless drivers must be tried and convicted should they be found guilty of the offences they commit.

Magistrate Jahateh’s  remarks came after  Corporal 265 Trawally applied to  withdraw  a case concerning a traffic offense that caused the death of Maimuna Jobe, a 7-year old girl and resident of Old Jeshwang in October, 2007.

The said  traffic offense involved a Nigerian national identified as Francis O Okafor. Francis was charged for allegedly driving a vehicle in a rash and negligent manner thereby causing the death of Maimuna.

She stressed that a lot of pedestrians have lost  their lives  as a result of careless driving. “People who commit such crimes must not go free. They should be tried and convicted if they are found guilty of such offences,” she said.

Corporal 265 Trawally, earlier on, informed the court that the family  of the deceased have sworn on an affidavit indicating that they do not intend to pursue the case against the accused. He further told the court that the only witness in the prosecution has travelled to Cassamance, adding that he will find it very difficult to continue with the case.

Subsequently, the appplication was granted and the case was finally withdrawn.