7 beggars cautioned and discharged

Seven beggars were on Monday, cautioned and discharged by Senior Magistrate Buba Jawo of the Bundung Magistrates’ Court, following their pleas of guilt to charges of being a common nuisance, contrary to the laws of the land. Narrating the facts of the matter before the court, Sergeant 772 Samateh of the Bundung Police Prosecution Unit, said on or about 20th September 2007, Sissahou Badjie and Lamin Ceesay were assigned to the area between Tallinding and Tabokoto on the highway.  Upon arrival at one junction (traffic lights), the convicts were seen loitering between motor vehicles; begging and creating inconvenience to the public.

According to him, they were arrested and taken to the Bundung Police Station, where cautionary and voluntary statements were obtained from them. Witness statements were also obtained from concerned witnesses, after which a criminal file was opened against them.

Assan Kanteh, Bubacarr Kanteh, Tinent Jallow, Musa Jarreh, Awa Krubally, Bakary Jallow and Muhammed, jointly charged pleaded guilty.

In their mitigation plea, the accused persons begged the court to have mercy on them, adding that they are first offenders.

Magistrate Buba Jawo, in delivering his verdict, put it to them that the matter before the court was not an issue of begging, but a manner in which they comport themselves, which could be fatal to their lives. 

“No one prays to be a destitute, but if one happens to find himself in such a situation, it does not mean one has to be a nuisance. In as much as I sympathise with you, we are duty bound to protect your lives as we would do for others in the country”, he explained.

He finally cautioned and discharged them.