By Sainabou Sambou
Justice Ebrima Jaiteh delivered a stern message against violent crime on Monday, sentencing Modou Badjie and Ebrima Camara to 20 years’ imprisonment each for their roles in a brazen early-morning armed robbery in Tallinding Farokono.
The convictions capped a trial that stretched from March 2022, bringing closure to a case that left local businessman Bakary Sabally traumatized and highlighted the dangers of opportunistic attacks in residential areas during the pre-dawn hours.
Justice Jaiteh ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, relying on compelling eyewitness identification, the recovery of stolen property, and confessional statements from both accused men. The duo faced a two-count indictment: conspiracy to commit a felony under Section 368 of the Criminal Code and robbery under Section 272.
According to prosecutors, on or about 19 August 2021, Badjie and Camara conspired and ambushed Sabally as he sat in his vehicle between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. One assailant pressed a knife to his throat while the other wielded a broken bottle, demanding cash and mobile phones. Sabally handed over two phones—a Samsung and a Tecno—along with D15,000 in cash.
Represented by State Counsel M. Sarr, with Ms. Fatoumatta Drammeh assisting in cross-examinations, the prosecution called four witnesses. Defense counsel E.Z. Bendu and C.U. Uduma represented the accused.
Sabally, testifying as PW1, recounted the terrifying ordeal while he was still mourning his younger brother. Despite the darkness and rain, he insisted he clearly recognized his attackers because he had seen them in the area before. “I will never forget their faces,” he told the court. Under cross-examination, he acknowledged the poor visibility but remained firm on his identification.
Amara Conteh (PW2), who knew Badjie as the son of his tenant, described a later confrontation in which Badjie allegedly pulled a knife on Sabally before being restrained. Phone dealer Alagie Cham (PW3) testified that he purchased two Samsung phones from Camara shortly after the robbery and later surrendered them to police.
Investigating officer Sergeant Mamadi Touray (PW4) provided crucial links: weapons recovered and identified by the accused; cautionary statements obtained after a trial-within-trial; and an identification parade in which Sabally picked out Camara. The phones were traced back to the crime through Cham.
Both men pleaded not guilty at the start of the trial. In their defense, Badjie, a carpenter, claimed he was arrested at home after work, detained, and forced to thumbprint documents he did not understand. Camara, a driver, denied knowing Badjie before the trial, could not recall events of that night, and rejected allegations that he sold stolen phones.
Defense lawyers argued that the identification was unreliable due to the conditions, that key witnesses were not direct observers of the robbery, and that the statements were involuntary. They urged the court to acquit their clients.
State Counsel Sarr countered that the evidence formed a strong, consistent chain. He invoked the doctrine of recent possession, noting Camara’s quick sale of the stolen phones. The confessional statements, he said, were detailed and corroborated each other.
In his judgment, Justice Jaiteh found the confessions “remarkably consistent,” showing the men acted together before, during, and after the crime. He described the evidence as a “continuous and coherent chain” that included threats with weapons and the theft of valuables. The judge accepted Sabally’s identification as credible recognition rather than a fleeting glance in the dark.
Both Badjie and Camara were found guilty on the counts of conspiracy and robbery. Justice Jaiteh sentenced each to 5 years for conspiracy and 20 years for robbery, with the terms to run concurrently, resulting in an effective 20-year term for each man. Time spent in custody will be deducted.
Describing the attack as a “serious act of violence against a vulnerable citizen,” the judge stressed that such crimes undermine public safety and must attract severe punishment. He reminded the convicts of their right to appeal.
