The Brikama Magistrate Court has convicted Mr. Dawda Sey for operating a Drug Premise without a license, contrary to Section 60 of the Medicines and Related Product Act, 2014.
Mr. Sey appeared before Magistrate I.O. Njie, where he maintained his guilty plea after the narration of facts by the Prosecutor.
Inspector S.I.W. Dibba, representing the IGP, told the court that the accused was apprehended by a joint Inspection Team composed of Medicines Control Agency (MCA) Inspectors and Staff from Security Forces in Lamin Kerewan. Upon request, Mr. Sey failed to produce a premise license and admitted he was aware that operating without one was an offence.
The Inspection Team seized the medicines, prepared an inventory and quarantine form, which the accused signed before the matter was reported to the Mandinary Police Station.
Inspector Dibba tendered the seizure documents and the voluntary statement of the accused as exhibits P1, P2, and P3, which were admitted without objection.
During mitigation plea, Mr. Sey told the court he was not selling medicines for profit but to assist his community, explaining that the local Health Centre closed at 16:00Hrs and residents often sought his help at his Drug Store. He added that he worked at Banjul Hospital, was a first-time offender, and pleaded for mercy.
In her ruling, Magistrate Njie convicted him on his own plea of guilty and sentenced him to a fine of D10,000, in default of which he would serve one-year imprisonment.