Breaking News:Teacher Handed Three Years Jail Term For Stabbing Sierra Leonean Refugee 8 Times!!!!

…..Magistrate Kumba Sillah Camara Says The Teacher Shirks His Responsibility As A Teacher

By Staff Writer Sulayman Ceesay, Banjul

A Gambian teacher, who stabbed a Sierra Leonean refugee eight times, thus putting her life into  jeopardy will spend three years behind bars, the court heard Wednesday.  Court papers revealed that the convict Babou Jadama,  a teacher at ST. Francis Lower Basic School, in Kunkujang sometime last year, had communicated death threats against one Sierra Leonean refugee, in the person of Maimuna Conteh. Jadama, a resident of Talinding, the court heard testified that he Jadama  had no alternative, but to stab the complainant,  following a dispute between the two. The dispute revolves around a love affair. Jadama was said to be in love with the plaintiff’s daughter. Court papers say Jadama had a row with Ms. Conteh’s daughter on the day in question. And it was during the process of brokering peace between the two,  when the accused stabbed the plaintiff with a  bottle eight times, the court heard.  

Narrating her ordeal before the court, Maimuna Conteh recalled how Jadama threatened to take her life. She adduced that the convict stabbed her eight times, which according to her left her in a state of unconsciousness. She says Jadama nearly killed her in that attack, which she affirms almost ravages her life for good.

“He hit me several times with a very sharp bottle that nearly killed me. He hit me eight times and I fell and people came to my aid.”she testified. 

She informed magistrate Kumba Sillah Camara that the convict was in the business of offending her daughter. She said her numerous appeals for the accused to keep the peace fell into deaf ears.  

A disgraced looking Babou Jadama pleaded for clemency. He told the court that any attempt to send him to jail will have an adverse effect on his life, including his own students, who he observes relied on him for educational purposes. Jadama said he regretted his actions and therefore appealed to the court to tamper justice with mercy.

In her judgment,  magistrate Kumba Camara said the accused ought to have known better as a teacher.

“"You were supposed to be a role model, despite your plea for mitigation. I find that you need to receive some form of punishment to deter others from committing such acts. I do not expect you to repeat such crimes. I therefore sentence you to three years in prison and to pay Ten Thousand Dalasis and in default to serve one year to run concurrently. A teacher should show good examples.  Your comportment will not teach any good morals to our kids. We need teachers  of good manners and conduct," she said.

Meanwhile, many here welcomed the magistrate’s verdict. One of them is the husband of Maimuna Conteh. “"I thank Magistrate Camara for her professionalism in handling the case. The verdict confirms that impunity does not pay. We are exceedingly happy with the court’s decision.  We are hopeful that such would not happen again,”he said.

Jadama was put onboard a waiting prison truck and whisked away to the Mile Two prisons. His family watched by helplessly while their loved ones was being taken to jail.