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Momodou
Denmark
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 Posted - 12 Jun 2006 : 22:59:59
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TREASON SUSPECTS PLEAD NOT GUILTY
By Surakata Danso
Fifteen suspects charged with treason, conspiracy to commit treason, accessory after the fact of treason and concealment of treason, all pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them in a crowded courtroom at the High Court in Banjul on Friday 9th June 2006.
The Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr. Emmanuel Fagbenle, informed the court, presided over by Justice Monagen, of the replacement of the previous indictment with two separate indictments. The effect is that the accused are now divided into two groups. The first group consisting of eight accused persons will be tried by Justice Monagen, while the second group consisting of seven accused persons will be tried by Justice Agim of The Gambia Court of Appeal. The first group consists of Captains Bunja Darboe, Yaya Darboe and Wassa Camara, Second Lieutenant Pharing Sanyang, Tamsir Jasseh, Alieu Jobe, Omar Keita (alias Omar Faal) and Honourable Demba Dem (National Assembly Member).
Count One
All eight accused persons are charged with treason contrary to Section 35(1) (a) of the Criminal Code. The particulars of the offence are that the eight with others at large on or about the 21st of March 2006 prepared or endeavored to overthrow the democratically-elected government of The Gambia by coup d’etat.
Count Two
All eight accused persons are charged with conspiracy to commit treason contrary to section 35(1) (g) of the Criminal Code. The particulars are that the eight with others at large on or about the 21st of March 2006 conspired to overthrow the democratically-elected government of the Republic of The Gambia by coup d’etat.
Count Three
Alieu Jobe is charged with accessory after the fact of treason contrary to section 26(2) of the Criminal Code. The particulars is that he assisted Col. Ndure Cham (the purported coup leader) to escape punishment by providing funds for his escape knowing that the coup plot which he masterminded had been foiled.
Count Four
Tamsir Jasseh is charged with accessory after the fact of treason. The particulars are that he assisted the purported coup leader to escape punishment by driving him from Farato in The Gambia to Darsilami in Cassamance, Senegal, knowing that the coup plot he masterminded to overthrow the government had been foiled.
SECOND GROUP
The second group of seven accused persons to be tried by Justice Agim has been charged with two counts of concealment of treason. This group consists of Captains Abdou Karim Jah and Pierre Mendy, Lieutenant Momodou Alieu Bah, Samba Bah, Lance Corporal Babou Janha, Private Alhaji Nying and Hamadi Sowe.
Count one
All seven accused persons are charged with concealment of treason contrary to section 36(a). The particulars of the offence are that the seven and others at large knowing that Ndure Cham with some other army officers and civilians intended to overthrow the government by coup d’etat failed to give the information to a Secretary of State, a Magistrate, a Police Officer or a member of the Armed Forces.
Count Two
The seven accused persons are charged with concealment of treason contrary to section 36(b) of the Criminal Code. The particulars of the offence are that the seven with others at large knowing that Col. Ndure Cham and others intended to overthrow the Government by coup d’etat failed to use other reasonable endeavour to prevent the commission of the offence.
The name, Mustapha Lowe, which appeared in the previous indictment, is not included in either of the two new indictments. Before adjourning the proceedings the presiding Judge advised relatives of Pharing Sanyang and two others to speed up efforts in providing lawyers for them. She cautioned that if they failed to provide a lawyer of their choice by 16th June, the state will provide one for him. At this stage the proceedings was adjourned to 16th June 2006.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 45/2006, 12-14 June, 2006
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