A man identified as Malick Badjie has been sentenced to three years in prison with hard labour after a reckless car drifting incident at Abuko School left a young student seriously injured.
In addition to the jail term, the court ordered Badjie to pay D1 million in compensation to the 12-year-old victim, Abdourahman Bah. If he fails to pay, he will face an extra two years behind bars.
The case stems from an incident earlier this year, when Badjie was caught on video performing dangerous high-speed drifts near the school premises during class hours. His vehicle struck Bah, sparking national outrage and calls for tougher action against reckless driving.
Badjie pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless and negligent conduct under the Criminal Offences Act, 2025.
The police welcomed the ruling, describing it as a strong warning to would-be offenders. “This verdict sends a clear message that such reckless behaviour will not go unpunished. We remain resolute in protecting lives, especially those of our children,” the statement read.
Bah is still recovering from his injuries, while the case has renewed calls for stricter traffic enforcement and stronger safety measures around schools.
