By Sainabou Sambou
The High Court in Banjul on Tuesday dismissed Karamo Bojang’s appeal against his conviction and five-year consecutive prison term for assaulting Modou Lamin Dampha with a broken bottle and later smashing the victim’s Redmi smartphone worth D12,000.
Justice Ebrima Jaiteh delivered a detailed judgment that shut down every ground raised by the appellant.
Bojang, who pleaded guilty before Principal Magistrate Landing M. Sanneh at Brusubi Magistrates’ Court on 18 September 2025, had tried to retract his plea on appeal. He claimed the magistrate convicted him without confirming he understood the charges, denied him the charge sheet, and failed to explain the mental elements of the offences in Mandinka, the only language he speaks fluently.
Defence counsel F. Bondi, assisted by J. Jeng, told the court their client was unrepresented, semi-literate, and pressured into pleading guilty.
State Counsel Fatou Drammeh countered that Section 307 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2025 bars any appeal against conviction once an accused voluntarily pleads guilty. She insisted the charges were interpreted into Mandinka, the facts narrated, and Bojang raised no objection when medical reports and photos of the victim’s injuries were tendered.
Justice Jaiteh was scathing in his remarks about the defence’s submissions. “Counsel cited authorities without providing copies, full citations, or bundles – a practice that falls far below acceptable professional standards,” he said, warning the Bar to desist from such conduct.
After examining the lower court record, the judge found that Bojang was present throughout, that the charges were read and interpreted in Mandinka, and that he personally confirmed that the prosecution’s facts were correct. “The appellant understood the nature and consequences of his plea,” Justice Jaiteh ruled.
Citing Section 307(1) of the CPA, the court held that a guilty plea can be challenged only on the sentence, not the conviction. The sentences – four years for assault causing actual bodily harm and one year for wilful property damage, plus D75,000 and D12,000 compensation respectively – were upheld as lawful and proportionate.
Karamo Bojang was immediately returned to Mile 2 Central Prisons to serve the remainder of his sentence.
