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 33 SENEGALESE ASPIRING MIGRANTS SENTENCED
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Momodou



Denmark
11737 Posts

Posted - 01 Mar 2007 :  13:10:17  Show Profile Send Momodou a Private Message
33 SENEGALESE ASPIRING MIGRANTS SENTENCED
By Yaya Bajo & Sarjo Camara-Singhateh



Magistrate Amina Saho of the Bundung Magistrates' Court sentenced thirty-three (33) Senegalese aspiring migrants last Monday to a term of imprisonment of one month and ordered their immediate deportation to Senegal after completion of their term of imprisonment. The migrants who all pleaded guilty were charged with offences under section 6 of the Immigration Act.

According to the fact sheet narrated by prosecutor 453 Touray, on the 22nd day of February 2007, The Gambia Police Force and the NIA received a tip-off at 3am that some foreign nationals gathered at Bakau Beach with intention to board a canoe which would transport them far into the sea where they would board another vessel for Barra. He added that at Barra they were supposed to board a bigger vessel which would eventually ferry them to the Canary Islands. "As a result, the officers rushed to the site and the accused persons together with the canoe owner, crew and the captain were all arrested," he explained. The prosecutor added that the police at Barra were informed about the saga and they also went to Barra beach where they picked up some Senegalese nationals who were suspected to have wanted to board the vessel to Spain.
453 Touray revealed that the agent himself escaped. Sgt Touray added that during interrogation they stated that some of them had paid D27, 000 D35, 000 and 500,000 CFA to the agent. Touray added that eight (8) Senegalese ID cards, two (2) voters' cards, one (1) visiting pass and 1 certificate of declaration of a lost ID card were retrieved from the intending migrants.

Lawyers Lamin Mboge and Edu Gomez, who served as counsels on humanitarian grounds, in their plea of mitigation on behalf of the accused persons, asked the court to temper justice with mercy. Lawyer Gomez noted that there is a need to look at the offence in its social economic concept. "The idea of migrating for greener pastures is a global phenomenon and their aim to make it is for the sake of ameliorating the lives of their relatives behind;" he said.

The presiding magistrate ruled that the court has taken congnisance of their economic hardship and double jeopardy. However, she said this should be done through the correct procedure as prescribed by the law. She therefore accordingly sentenced each to one month imprison and upon completion of their jail term, be deported back to Senegal. She further stated that it is the opinion of the court that whatever is done should be in accordance with the law; that they should not risk their lives and resources for greener pastures, which could result to drowning in the high seas. She stated that the court has taken the judicial stand that Gambia is becoming an illegal transit point for many Africans, especially the Senegalese.
She finally said that they cannot be left scot-free but that the punishment will be a deterrent for others who may want to follow suit.

The alleged Canoe owners, Musa Faal and 3 others, are to appear in court tomorrow to face the charge of conveying persons by water for hire in unsafe or over loaded vessel, contrary to section 225 of the Criminal Code.


Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 024/2007, Feb 28 - March 1, 2007

A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone

Cornelius

Sweden
1051 Posts

Posted - 01 Mar 2007 :  20:18:09  Show Profile Send Cornelius a Private Message
legal deterrence

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