Thursday, April 24, 2014

The Gambia: Court fines Egyptians over illegal fishing

The MV.SAFI fishing vessel is being held by the Navy but Magistrate Abeke had ordered for its release once the fine is paid. Photo of Banjul Ports taken from Access Gambia
A lower court in the Gambian capital, Banjul, has found two Egyptians guilty on a charge of ‘illegal fishing’ on Wednesday 23 April.

Ali Bahgatabd Alla Daoud and Hanishehata Abou El Hassan were sentenced to a fine of D200, 000 by Magistrate Hillary Abeke, who is presiding, at the Banjul Magistrate Court.  

They had no lawyer and have told the court they can only speak little English.


Abeke had ruled the men, the captain and chief engineer of the fishing vessel MV.SAFI, will serve a serve six month imprisonment with hard labor if they fail to pay the fine.

Prosecutor Superintendent Sainey Joof said Daoud and El Hassan were found ‘fishing in a restricted zone’ outside Banjul on April 8, 2014.

According to Joof, the men were arrested by Lieutenant William Demba who led a Navy patrol at sea a fortnight ago.     

The MV.SAFI fishing vessel is being held by the Navy but Magistrate Abeke had ordered for its release once the fine is paid.

  • A version of this story first appeared on The Voice

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