Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No.79/2007, 9-10 July, 2007
Editorial
BASIRU GASSAMA TEACHES THE ETHICS OF JOURNALISM
FOROYAA AND THE JAMMEH GOVERNMENT CAN BOTH LEARN
In the 6 July 2007 issue of the Daily Observer, Basiru Gassama, a
prosecution witness in Fatou Jaw Manneh’s trial, expressed his opinion that the
reporter failed to stick to the tenets of this noble profession. He said that the
author’s manner of reporting is a calculated attempt to defame and undermine
his personality.
Basiru questions the reporter’s impartiality and fairness. He is therefore
teaching everyone operating in the public domain in the public interest to be
displaying impartiality and fairness in the dispensation of their public
duties.
Basiru wrote “If the defense counsel asks annoying and provocative questions
that I think were irrelevant to the case, it is natural for me to shout. As
a journalist you are under obligation to stick to the relevant issues and not
petty things that have no place in the newsroom and even the court room.”
We thank Basiru for his criticism. It is taken in good faith. He does not
want his personality to be injured and we have no intention to do so. The
reporters are schooled to report the truth of what had transpired in court in good
faith in the public interest. We will publish any facts that differ with our
reporters’ if our attention is drawn to it.
It is important for Basiru to understand that while he was in court to
testify “what he knows about the Gambia’s democracy and development under the
leadership of President Yahya Jammeh” the accused was in court to defend her
personal liberty which was at stake. She also is in need of impartial witnesses
who have no partisan biases and who are there to answer all questions
truthfully in good faith in the public interest.
As an expert in court procedure, we hope he was indeed helping the court to
get to the truth about Gambia’s development when he responded that he did not
know the state of the Soma Basse Road, Serrekunda Sukuta Road, Barra
Amdallai, Sukuta Jabang and others mentioned by the Counsel for the defence. We hope
he would also agree that while journalists should publish the truth in good
faith in the public interest; witnesses in court should also speak the truth
in good faith in the public interest. We are also bound by the same ethical
principle if we are all to live in peace and freedom.
His vituperative assertions against the reporter have not been reciprocated.
It is accepted as the exercise of the right of self defense.
In our view, what safeguards ethics is the weapon of criticism and self
criticism. This is also what safeguards a democratic and tolerant society. We
hope the APRC regime will learn from Basiru that one can fight words with words.
We also hope that the Jammeh Government will learn from Foroyaa that those
who scrutinize the behaviours of others should not be intolerant of scrutiny.
We, therefore, hope that as the number of people being released from
detention increases, cases where government can combat words with words will be
removed from our courts and the laws providing for them from our statute books. A
government should be a servant and not a master or commander. A government
which behaves like a master or commander is always intolerant to criticism and
is very quick in causing the arrest, detention and disappearance of its
critiques.
Instead of stamping out criticism it amplifies it to a global scale. Words
are inflamed by words. Words are also calmed by words. We hope Basiru’s cause
to defend his personality has been served by our words to acknowledge his
concerns.
The road to eternal peace is fair play and justice.
GOOD NEWS FROM MILE TWO PRISON
Vincent Jatta & Other Detainees Breath “Air” Of Freedom
Rtd. Colonel Vincent Jatta and some security detainees were released over
the weekend, this paper has reliably learnt.
According to our information, retired Colonel Vincent Jatta, a former Chief
of Defence Staff (CDS), sergeant Buba Mendy of the GNA, sergeant Buba Jammeh
of the State Guard, Ebrima Camara, former commissioner of Police in Western
Region, Ngorr Secka, a former acting Deputy Director General of NIA and Baba
Saho, a senior NIA operative, were all released over the weekend.
When contacted, the family members of the freed men confirmed the release of
their loved ones.
Jatta, Secka, Saho and Mendy were arrested shortly after the foiled coup
attempt last year.
Ngorr Secka, Baba Saho and Vincent Jatta were charged with conspiracy to
commit treason.
Sergeant Buba Jammeh was arrested shortly after the freedom newspaper
scandal while Sergeant Buba Mendy was arrested shortly after the failed coup
attempt in March. Both Jammeh and Mendy were not charged. Ebrima Camara was
arraigned in court for cattle rustling.
IN THE TREASON TRIAL
Detective Cham Cross-Examined
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
In a cross-examination at the High Court on Wednesday before Justice Yeboah,
police detective Sergeant Lamin Cham, a prosecution witness in the treason
trial of the four civilian suspects in the March 2006 foiled coup, told the
court that he did not write a statement during his investigation, but jointly
wrote a report with the investigative panel.
Asked by the defence counsel, Lamin S. Camara, as to how many statements he
obtained from the fifth accused, Tamsir Jasseh, Sergeant Cham said “six.”
Cham added that the statements were put in the case file and were tendered
in court. He said Jasseh’s voluntary statement was taken at the State Central
Prisons in Mile 2 on April, 19, 2006 when his office, the Major Crime Squad,
was moved to Mile 2 and the cautionary statements were taken at the National
Intelligence Agency (NIA) headquarters.
Counsel Camara asked the witness to tell the court which one is easier to
write as an experienced police officer, Cham responded that a cautionary
statement is easier, because it determines what charges are preferred against the
accused.
He also said sometimes a cautionary statement takes longer, depending on the
case, noting that Jasseh’s cautionary statement took longer time than the
voluntary statement.
Quizzed on what security reason compelled him to move the Major Crime Squad
to Mile 2, Cham said that the Major Crime Squad is a police station situated
at the last floor of the police headquarters in Banjul which has numerous
offices and taking the accused persons there was not suitable as some of them
might escape.
He told the court that he does not know how many offices are at the NIA,
saying that he was only there as part of the investigative panel and he was
number seven of that panel.
He also agreed that the panel was conducting investigations at the same time
as the cautionary statements were taken, adding that Jasseh did not write
his statement at the panel but only explained and was taken to another room
where his statement was obtained.
Put to him by Counsel Camara that since Jasseh was taken to another room
there could be more than one room at the NIA, Cham said he cannot tell how many
rooms are at the NIA but that they are more than one.
Asked how many of them were relocated to the Mile 2, the witness said that
three of them were taken from the Major Crime Squad to Mile 2, out of the ten
people at his office.
Put to him that the Major Crime Squad never relocated, Cham said they did,
because they were the only three chosen by the authorities, adding that there
is a security rule regarding what one should know and what one should not
know.
The witness was given three statements among Jasseh’s statements and asked
if Mile 2 was indicated on them, he said ‘no’.
Asked why that was not indicated on the statements, Cham said Major Crime
Squad is not Mile 2, and Major Crime Squad is at the police headquarters in
Banjul.
Questioned as to who was the independent witness, he said, Babou Loum. He
went on to stress that Jasseh wrote Loum’s name on the first page and he (Cham)
wrote Loum’s name on the back page which Loum signed, but did not date it.
He added that there is no column for date on the cautionary statement and he
did not tell Loum to date his own signature.
Continuing his cross-examination on the following day Thursday, July 5, Cham
said the name and address on another exhibit given to him was filled by the
accused person.
He added that the name of the independent witness ‘Tijan Bojang’ was
written by him, noting that Bojang is literate.
Asked, why he decided to write for Bojang, Cham said it is not compulsory
for him to write but was only there to serve as a witness. Cham also said the
independent witness wrote the date against his signature.
The detective said the accused person was supposed to remove the Gamcel,
Africel and Gamtel switches at Abuko and made a sketch or a map of the location
of the switches.
Cham told the court that he has been in the police force for sixteen years,
adding that he never recovered the map, because it was handed to Captain
Wassa Camara who destroyed it after visiting the Abuko Earth Station.
He also said that during the investigation, one Regimental Sergeant Major
(RSM) Alpha Bah said he photo-copied the map from the ex-Chief of Defence
Staff, Colonel Ndure Cham.
The witness was asked why he never said this in his evidence in chief, he
told the court, “I remember it now.”
Put to him by the defence counsel that Mustapha Lowe never said the fifth
accused person and the ex-Chief of Defence Staff went to Kubuneh in Casamance,
Cham said he was not in court when Lowe was testifying, but that he told him
during the investigation.
He added that Lowe’s statement was obtained by one of his colleagues, Boto
Keita or Abdoulie Sowe, but could not tell the court who specifically recorded
it.
The witness also told the court that he does not know what the number of the
mobile phone given to Lowe was, saying that the mobile phone was taken by
Colonel Ndure Cham.
He responded to the defence’s claim that Jasseh’s Land Rover, which is
alleged to have transported Colonel Cham, is impounded by the investigative
panel, adding that they have authority to impound properties during criminal
investigations.
Sergeant Cham was given three exhibits containing the alleged marabout work
and its charities, but said none of the three documents contained Jasseh’s
name.
He, however, said he cannot speak Arabic but can read it and can read the
Holy Quran as well but cannot understand a verse from it.
Cham told the court that one of the exhibits in Arabic contains names and
numbers, adding that he cannot read it but the marabout who authored it can.
The witness denied having said that Captain Wassa Camara requested for the
GRTS. He said what he told the court was Captain Camara appealed to the panel
so that their appeal can be broadcast.
He said he watched the tape over the GRTS and about seven suspects appeared
in the tape.
Asked why seven people, since only Captain Camara requested for it, Cham
replied that it was voluntary and nobody was forced. He said they were all
cautioned in the presence of two independent witnesses and these witnesses never
appeared on the television broadcast. Cham also said he did not appear on the
TV and does not know how many times it was broadcast.
UTG DEBATE ON AFRICAN UNITY
By Isatou Bittaye
The University of The Gambia, in collaboration with the Department of State
for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology on Friday held a
symposium on the “Unification of African States into one Federation” at the
School of Nursing in Banjul. The debate was aimed at feeling the pulse of the
students on the ‘Grand Debate’ on the formation of a Union government in Africa.
Mr. Gumbo Ali Touray, Chair of International Affairs at the UTG and who
chaired the session, said some considered the idea as necessary, some not yet due
and others believed that Africa should not be under one federation.
Contributing at the symposium, Mr. Demba Ceesay, Registrar of The Gambia
College, said the founding leaders of Africa had the dream of one Africa. Mr.
Ceesay said the dream was not possible but argued that it is now the time for
African countries to be together. He noted that it is important for Africa to
unite but that the time has not come yet. He said inorder to have one Africa,
issues such as the health, economy, political conflict; Education and
Ecological problems must be addressed first.
Dr. Abubacarr Senghore, lecturer at UTG, said that Africa inherited
different colonial legacies. He added that in Africa there exists political identity,
ethnic belonging, ideological and religious backgrounds and that for African
unification to be realised these problems must be addressed. He argued that
issues of poverty, corruption, press freedom and human rights, rule of law
and other crisis should be dealt with first before African unity; that crisis
exist as a result of the ineffectiveness of different African organisations,
the absence of political will and that transparency and accountability must
exist for African Unity. Dr. Senghoe noted that the only solution for African
unification is change of attitudes.
Mr. Sheik Omar Faye, who represented the Management Development Institute,
said that African Union is feasible but inorder for Africa to be united there
must exist a unified language which should be accepted by all. He said that
there exists in Africa antagonism, lack of tolerance, greed and selfishness
which, according to him, are impediments for economic growth. He noted that the
issue of gender, security, patriotism, sense of belonging and
self-confidence must also be addressed. Mr. Faye added that poverty, which is a global
issue, must also be dealt with for African unity.
Dr. Buhari Sillah, Head of Department for Economics and Management at UTG,
noted that there exist different economic blocks in the world. Dr. Sillah added
that African countries cannot survive in the face of global economic blocks
such as U.S and E.U but can only do so when there is one continental economic
block for Africa. He noted that countries gain in trade because of the
ability to bargain and Africa is loosing in trade because they lack the bargaining
power. Mr. Sillah said that there is need for Africa to come together.
Dr. Omar Jah, Head of Department for Humanities and Languages at UTG, began
his contribution by asking a question ‘Are we independent?’ . He said one
must have an identity before being able to unite. He said that people are now
leaving in realities that cannot be resisted. He added that for the
unification of Africa, the shift from leadership initiation to grass root initiation is
important. Dr. Jah said Africa has the right to be independent.
Dr. Lamin Sidibeh, Head of Department for Social Sciences UTG, said the
United States of Africa is long over due. He noted that group coherence is needed
and that the fundamental determinant issues, such as behavioural aspects,
passive values and expectations, organisational and cultural pluralism should
be addressed. He noted that Africa unification is possible with determination
and commitment. Dr. Sidibeh said that it should start from the membership
stage, then to the confrontation stage, differentiation and collaborative stage.
Mr. Kakai Sanyang, who represented The Gambia Technical and Training
Institute (GTTI), said political, economic, military and cultural disparities are
the stumbling blocks for African Unity. He said that Africa can be united. The
issue is now how to do it.
Dr. Saja Taal, a Political Science lecturer at UTG, said African unification
is inevitable but the will of the people must be taken into account. He
added that there exists the intellectual, illiterate and poor groups and the lack
of awareness. Dr. Taal noted that the issue of free movement and need for
integration should be addressed. He added that for effective integration there
should be continental infrastructural development.
Halifa Sallah, a former member of the Pan African Parliament and one of its
advisers on the grand debate indicated that the panellists will have a
conceptual problem unless the debate is contextualised.
He said the debate must either be based on the essence and outcome of the
grand debate in Accra or the general opinion of the panelists.
Regarding the grand debate he clarified that the study commissioned by a
committee of seven heads of state on the union government and United States of
Africa has been debated in Ghana and consensus has been reached to form both a
government and a state; that they are now working on a time frame and road
map to be reviewed in the 10th summit in January 2008.
On the general opinions, he observed that if religious, ethnic, racial,
linguistic and other differences, as well as poverty could be an obstacle to the
founding of a state there would not have been a single independent state on
the continent today. He said that the time was too short otherwise he would
give examples of the many continental instruments, institutions, policies and
programmes that are collecting dust which provides all the basis to found an
African government and state. He finally called for the continuation of the
debate.
“GAMBIA HAS AN UNDER DEVELOPED FINANCIAL SECTOR”
Sos For Trade
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
Abdou Kolley, Secretary of State for Trade, Industry and Employment has said
that The Gambia has an under-developed and undiversified financial sector.
Mr. Kolley made this remark on Monday, July 2, at the Kairaba Beach Hotel,
while delivering a keynote address at a private sector workshop on technical
facilities from the Centre for the Development of Enterprises (CDE) and the
European Investment Bank (EIB).
“Enterprise development in The Gambia remains a major challenge, mainly
because of lack of access to long-term financing. Recently, the World Bank’s
Doing Business Indicators identified access to financing as one of the major
constraints in The Gambia,” the SoS said.
Mr. Kolley said long term development financing for productive investment is
vital for economic development, but is largely unavailable in the country,
especially for small and medium enterprises.
The Secretary of State said efforts are being geared towards creating a
conducive and stable operating environment and the Department of State for Trade,
Industry and Employment is finalising a national micro, small and medium
size enterprise policy to facilitate their development and enhance their
contribution to a sustainable economic growth and development.
The SoS said: “The sector has a huge potential to serve as the engine of
growth and to achieve the objectives of Vision 2020. With limited employment
opportunities in the public sector, coupled with mixed fortunes in the
productive sector such as agriculture, a-growing number of Gambians are turning to the
small enterprises for employment.”
FOCUS ON POLITICS
THE 1981 POLITICAL CRISIS
GAMBIA SUBMERGED IN RECESSION, DROUGHT AND DEVALUATION;
WithSuwaibou Touray
In the focus column of the last issue, we have published the Agreement
between the Republic of The Gambia and the Republic of Senegal concerning the
Establishment of The Senegambia Confederation.
Let us now pick up from where we stopped.
The Senegambia Confederation has now been established. The Confederal
parliament also met on Wednesday, December 29, 1983 in an extraordinary session at
the request of President Abdou Joof. Mr. Momodou Babucar Njie (BP), the
Speaker of the Gambian parliament, was said to be unanimously elected as Speaker
of the Confederal parliament. Mr. Habib Thiam, the speaker of the Senegalese
Parliament was elected the Vice Speaker.
The draft standing orders and the Budget which amounted to D4. million or
256 million FCFA were examined and adopted by the SeneGambia Confederal
Assembly.
At this stage, the Confederation appeared to be in full swing. It had been
two years since its declaration and signing. The second Anniversary had taken
place in Banjul. President Abdou Joof received a tumultuous welcome in The
Gambia, at the then McCarthy Square.
Sir Dawda who spoke first, said the Confederation had become a political
reality, since its inception, thus demonstrating the will and determination of
the two people to work for their mutual advancement. He expressed his
satisfaction that the basic political institutions and administrative framework had
been established and were working.
For Sir Dawda, the success of the Confederation would depend on the manner
in which it affects the socio-economic life of the people of the Senegambia;
that it would be essential that the two countries which made up the
confederation to improve their economy, both at the national and international levels.
For the President of Senegal and the Senegambia Confederation, Abdou Joof,
he said the different signs of recovery noticed here and there were just not
capable of curing the symptoms of such a deep crisis, or of solving its
structural effects. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the economic situation
then and thus maintained that, “with every comprehensive challenge, they should
find a comprehensive solution; and that it required a responsible political
dialogue geared towards action”. President Joof added that by establishing the
diagnosis of the crisis without complacency, and by correctly measuring its
extent, they should endeavour to win over the challenge on free movement of
objects and things.
President Joof, however, did not mince words when he said that the dialogue
would be difficult but that they have “principles to defend and values to
safeguard which were the guarantees to all peoples for exercising their national
free will ..”
Regarding the economic and monetary union, Joof said he “would like to say
very clearly that his brother and friend Sir Dawda would take all the
necessary steps to ensure that this third year of the confederation was resolutely
devoted to fruitful negotiations on economic and monetary issues”.
President Abdou Joof reminded the People that it was only with stability and
security that they could get to grips with the tasks of economic and social
development which they were confronted with. He then renewed his trust in the
armed and security forces who he said had given a good example by their
discipline and sense of honour.
THE ECONOMIC SITUATION
The economic situation featured in both presidents’ speeches, but reading
carefully between the lines, one would notice that for President Jawara, the
economy was the priority. For President Joof, security took the centre stage as
a prelude to economic development. This was why he emphasized the
international economic order which, he opined, remained the backbone of the edifice of
peace in the world.
The economic situation or its improvement must of necessity take centre
stage for President Jawara.
The year 1984 was characterized by drought which had reached unprecedented
severity. The government of the Gambia had to appeal to governments across the
globe, as well as nationals for prompt assistance to alleviate the
difficulties. An estimated 290-300, 000 heads of cattle died plus a similar number of
sheep and goats. Even human beings had severe difficulty in accessing
drinking water in the rural areas of the Gambia. Production of all kinds of crops
according to records had fallen by 50%.
The slowing down of the economy was felt by the ordinary people since 1983.
It was the taxi drivers who first cried loud in that year and were allowed to
increase fares from 30 butut to 50 butut. But the situation became so bad in
early 1984 that government had to increase prices of everything, such as
bread, fuel, rice, cooking oil, fares, etc. Everything was blamed on drought and
external factors. According to official sources, the increase was due to the
lack of fuel and spare parts. In a research document published by the United
Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), in Cooperation with the
Gambia Government, entitled “Investors Guide To The Gambia,” it is reported
that the economy experienced a down turn due to a combination of inadequate
internal factors.
According to the research booklet, it was indicated that GDP growth slowed
down to about 1.8 per cent per year and per capita income also declined at the
rate of about 1.6 per cent pear year; that most of the objectives of the
First National Development Plan were subsequently revised and extended to cover
1980/81; that those of the Second National Development Plan 1981/82/85/86
proved unrealistic as the economy had to face a combination of chronic budget
deficits due to the failure to diversity away from groundnuts. Deteriorating
terms of Trade as well as the mounting debt burden were also cited.
During this period, according to the Sun newspaper, people called on
government to stabilize prices by taking into account the purchasing power of the
working masses.
So how did the PPP government wish to solve this crisis? A team of IMF
experts were invited on the 13 of January 1984 and had consultations with the
government over an aid package on the Gambia. Still according to the Sun, the
whole thing was shrouded in some kind of secrecy but that what was said was they
were to help cushion the effects of general economic malaise due to the
successive deterioration of the terms of trade and the high cost of imported
fuel.
According to Babucar Gaye of the Sun newspaper, The Gambia started this
negotiations with the IMF, as far back as August 1983 but due to the secrecy
surrounding such missions, it was not possible to learn exactly whether a
definitive package had been worked out for the Gambia or not.
But by 26 February 1984, the President revealed to the people in his address
at a mass political rally that the Gambian Dalasi had been devalued. He did
not stop there. He also said it has consequences. He then went on to inform
the importers to import less and to restrict themselves to items that were
only necessary and scarce in the country. He also defended the step as necessary
because of the gravity of the economic situation. He mentioned drought as
the cause coupled with the recession over the years. He then recommended the
importation of agricultural equipment to go side by side with the exportation
of the country’s product inorder to halt the flow of foreign exchange from the
Gambia.
See next issue for more on the politics of the 1980s.
SPEAKER ANNOUNCES THE PAC/PEC SESSION
By Abdoulie Dibba
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay,
announced that a joint session of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee and the
National Assembly Select Committee on Public Enterprises shall be convened
from Tuesday 10 July to Thursday 30 August 2007 inorder to receive and consider
annual reports and financial statements of the Republic of The Gambia. Hon.
Jahumpa-Ceesay made these statements at the Assembly’s Chambers during a news
conference held on Thursday, the 4 of July 2007. She said the exercise is in
pursuance of the powers bestowed on the PAC by the provisions of section
(102), (109) and (110) of the 1997 constitution of the Republic of The Gambia.
She also said the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Public Enterprise
Committee (PEC) shall, effective Tuesday 10 July 2007, proceed to jointly
receive and consider annual Reports, Accounts and Financial statements of all
public enterprises and agencies that are funded wholly or partly by taxes from
the people of The Gambia.
According to the speaker, the principal objective of this statutory exercise
is to perform lawful checks, scrutiny and serve as an over-sight over Public
Enterprises and Agencies and the Public Services Delivery Systems, with a
view to ensuring that the Government of The Gambia and its Public Service
delivery systems, institutions, enterprises and agencies are all collectively,
jointly and severally accountable to the Gambian people.
SoS SANNEH HARPS ON THE RICE MILL AT KUNTAUR
By Abdoulie Dibba
The Secretary of State for Agriculture, Hon Kanja Sanneh, told deputies at
the National Assembly that the machinery at Kuntaur Rice Mill has served its
purpose and that the availability of spare parts had been a problem over the
years, since there is no company currently manufacturing spare parts for this
type of machinery. SoS Sanneh said his department of state is strenuously
working towards making the rice mill functional.
The Agriculture Secretary of State was responding to a question raised by
Hon. Foday G. Manka, Member for Janjangbureh Constituency, who asked for an
explanation on what is responsible for the halting of the supply of Gambian rice
in the market and what are the plans of government to make this rice mill
functional again. According to him, few years ago, clean Gambian rice was
milled and sold at affordable price throughout the country, and this had reduced
dependency on imported rice.
IN LAMIN JARJU’S IMPERSONATION TRIAL
Western Region Governor to Testify
By Modou Jonga
Following the testimony of Ebrima Jallow, the fourth prosecution witness, in
the alleged impersonation trial involving Lamin Jarju and the state,
prosecutor 413 Sanyang had told the court that his fifth and last witness could be
the Governor of Western Region, Mr. Abdou F.M Badjie.
The prosecutor made these remarks on Monday, 2 July 2007 at the Brikama
Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate E.F M’bai while applying for an
adjournment. The accused person, Lamin Jarju, a resident of Lamin in the Kombo North, is
arraigned for allegedly impersonating as an Alkalo without lawful authority.
He has pleaded not guilty. An Alkalo’s stamp and land transfer document were
said to be found in his (the accused’s) possession at the time of his arrest.
In his testimony Ebrima Jallow, a police officer, attached to Yundum Police
Station, noted that he saw the accused while on duty on 20 April at the said
station. Jallow said, he obtained a cautionary statement from the accused in
the presence of an independent witness, one Sheikh Sohna.
According to the witness, the said cautionary statement was read out to the
accused in Mandinka and that it was signed by both the latter and the
independent witness. Both the cautionary and voluntary statements, which were
identified by the witness, were tendered and marked as exhibits in court without
objection by the defence counsel, Lawyer Borry S. Touray.
The trial was adjourned to 11 July 2007.
MEN ACCUSED OF DEFRAUDING ASPIRANT MIGRANTS
By Abdou Jeli Keita
Sedekeh Joof and Alasan Joof were on Tuesday 3 July arraigned before
Magistrate Lamin George of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, charged with two counts of
Conspiracy to commit Felony, contrary to section 368 of the Criminal Code
and obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 288 of the Criminal
Code Cap 10 Volume 3 Laws of The Gambia.
The particulars of offence in count one state that “on or about the month of
May 2007 in the city of Banjul and other places in The Gambia, the accused
jointly conspired to commit felony by obtaining an amount of D600, 000 from
Musa Sillah, Seedy Fofana and seventy others on pretext that he will assist
them to enter Spain.
Count two states that Sedekeh Joof and Alasan Joof on or about the month of
May 2007 in the city of Banjul and other places in The Gambia, with intent to
defraud, obtained D600, 000 from Musa Sillah, Seedy Fofana and seventy
others by means of false pretence.
Both accused (Sedekeh Joof and Alsasan Joof) pleaded not guilty to the
charges preferred against them. The police prosecutor, Inspector Keita, asked the
court to adjourn the case for two weeks to enable him bring witnesses to
court. Inspector Keita informed the court that the accused persons were each
bailed by two Gambian sureties and that they have been reporting to the police
station regularly.
In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, Lamin George, granted court bail to
the accused persons, Sedekeh Joof and Alasan Joof, who are required to
provide two Gambian sureties with traceable addresses, and that they must sign a
bond of D300, 000 each. The sureties are also required to be coming to court
with the accused persons.
The case is adjourned to a later date in July.
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