Disowned Lawmaker’s Drug Case Reaches Climax

ex-lawmaker

After three years of legal battle, the drug trial involving a former National Assembly member for Nianija constituency in Central River Region and former military officer is near conclusion.

Disowned by his ruling-APRC party in the wake of the drug saga, Dawda Manneh and Demba Baldeh are charged with possession and trafficking of illicit drug – cannabis - but pleaded not guilty.

When the case resumed on Monday July 18, 2011 at the Banjul Magistrate’s Court, the defense counsel has been given seven days to make final argument. That would be followed by the state lawyer seven days later before the magistrate will decide the fate of the two men, who dissociated themselves from over 9 kilograms of illicit drugs discovered in the vehicle of the former lawmaker. The former military officer was onboard.

Nine witnesses to the alleged crime testified against the accused persons.

The case resumes Wednesday, August 3.

Browsing Freedom Newspaper Costs Editor Keita His Job

journalist Keita

Pro-government Daily Observer newspaper’s sports editor was fired after he was discovered to have browsed Freedom, a U.S based Gambian online newspaper, Observer’s acting editor-in-chief has revealed.

Mr Nanama Keita is alleged to have presented false information to a public officer when he petitioned The Daily Observer’s managing director to the president’s office on allegations of financial malpractices at the company, following his dismissal, he calls wrongful.

Editor Keita however denied any wrong-doing

“When it was realised by the IT expert that Mr Nanama Keita had browsed the Freedom newspaper, the MD [Pa Malick Faye] was left with no other option but to sack him,” Editor Alagie Jobe testified in a crowded courtroom on Monday at the Banjul Magistrate’s Court.

Critical to the regime of President Yahya Jammeh, Freedom is a Gambian online newspaper owned and edited Pa Nderry Mbai, a U.S based Gambian journalist. Journalist Mbai had worked for The  Daily Observer and later The Point newspaper before he left for U.S. in 2004.  

In his testimony, Editor  Jobe said, the article on alleged financial malpractices against The  Daily Observer’s managing director, Pa Malick Faye published on Freedom came after MD Faye privileged him to control a vehicle allocated to the editorial desk.

“I head the editorial department and the accused is answerable to me,” he said.

“A day after the vehicle was handed-over to me, I received a telephone called  from the MD Faye at around 10 pm; that the editor of Freedom newspaper telephoned him on the claims that he (MD) bought a vehicle for me and [he is responsible] for other financial malpractices.”

He added: “That night I was summoned for a meeting alongside Assan Sallah, the news editor, marketing manager, and one Lamin Sanneh. The accused was not invited.”

Jobe claimed that the article that was published on Freedom newspaper was sent to them by a friend because, he said, they cannot access the website.

 However, he told the court that he knew who sent the article the moment he read it. But the same Editor Jobe in a short while denied saying that statement when cross-examined by   Neneh Cham, the defense counsel for the accused.

Jobe revealed that the accused was invited at the same night when his computer was screened by the IT expert and it was found that he has contacts with Freedom.

The moment all those things were discovered, he explained, the managing director ordered the seizure of Nanama’s computer.

Freedom, though, continued to publish articles related to the subject.

Jobe alleged the accused angrily left and wrote a statement when he knew that he could not be re-instated.

“He begged me many times to talk to the managing director,” editor Jobe revealed, referring to his former co-worker who had been with the Daily Observer company since 2003 shortly after completing his secondary school education and rose through various ranks from freelancer, columnist, staff reporter and sports editor.

“And after few days later,” editor Jobe went on, “We received investigators regarding the financial malpractices alleged by the accused.”

Nanama was subsequently charged after it was realised that the petition he wrote to the president about his wrongful termination was false, Jobe said.

“Circumcisers Should Not Be Blamed” Hope for Forgiveness

Ramata Sonko

Scores of women, who recently dropped their knives and vowed to stop female circumcision in a bid to promote the health of women, said they should not be blamed for their preceding actions because they were not aware of the consequences that the practice can caused  to girls and women.

As much as these women regretted the act, they don’t want to take a morsel of blamed.

“I thought it was tradition and deep rooted culture which can never be change,” said one of the knife droppers Kaddy Sallah of Munkulata village.

“I don’t think I should be held responsible but hope that the young girls whom I have mutilated will forgive me.”



ex-circumcisers

“I would not have known if it was not the intervention of the  Gambia Committee for Traditional Practices (GAMCOTRAP), who has taken the lead to protect and save girls from the harmful practice,” she added.

GAMCOTRAP have over the years been very active and effective in the promotion of gender, women and children’s rights, particularly those relate to female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and other discriminatory practices.

Kaddy said she has been doing the practice for more than 20 years and have mutilated hundreds of girls and women.

 “It was not intentional. I didn’t know that it affects the health of women. When I think about the consequences now, I cried.”   

Abdoulie Sonko Sentenced to Death

abdoulie Sonko

After eight years of legal battle, Abdoulie Sonko, believed to the leader of the 1996 Farrafenni  military camp attackers was yesterday, convicted and sentenced to death by Justice  Emmanuel Admadi of the High Court in Banjul.

Sonko was arrested in 2003 at his home village of Berending in Nuimi, North Bank Region, following which he was put under trial for trying to overthrow Jammeh’s government.  

The atmosphere which greeted his conviction and sentencing was both chaotic and somber.  The convict was uptight and in tears, yet he unsuccessfully managed to calm down a teary crowd of relatives and sympathisers.   

D2.5 Million Bail Bond for Ex-Finance PS

Serign Cham

Remanded for more than a week at the Mile 2 Central Prison, the ex-Permanent Secretary for Finance has being released on bail to an  amount  of  D2.5 million, one Gambian surety who must deposit his title deed and the accused to deposit all international documents to the registrar at the High Court in Banjul.

His released followed a motion supported by 13 paragraphs file by his counsel, Pap Cheyassin Secka. “The motion states that the accused be granted bail pending the filing of new indictments against him,” Secka added.

“And we are ready, able and willing to satisfy any bail condition,” he adduced.

The ex-PS is yet to enter his plea as the state is yet to file new indictments after the the transfer of the case to the High Court.

It could be recalled that Serign Cham was earlier arraigned at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on Monday 4 July on suspicion of economic crime for allegedly authorizing the sale of a developed plot of land in Kanifing Estate at the sum of D250, 000, 00.

The case continues   October 17, 2011 for hearing.

Ex-GRTS Reporter’s to Prove His Innocence

 

Dodou Sanneh

Dodou Sanneh, a former reporter of the state owned television, Gambia Radio and Television Services, GRTS will defend his innocence on Monday, July18, 2011 against one  count of false information imposed on him.
This development came following an announcement yesterday July 12 by the prosecuting police officer, Superintendent Sainey Joof that the state is satisfied with evidence against the accused person after calling three witnesses - a police officer and two GRTS employee.
His case is underway at the Banjul Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Ma-Nyima Bojang.
He is accused of giving false information to a public officer that he was wrongfully terminated after almost five years.
 He found himself in a legal battle when he wrote a petition to the Office of the President concerning his unlawful termination.
 However, he denied the charged. 
Sanneh who is defending himself craved the court to adjourn the matter when the magistrate asked him to enter his defense.
 “I want to secure the service of a lawyer,” Dodou added.
The magistrate subsequently adjourned the case.
‘The accused has the right to secure a lawyer at anytime of the trial,” she told the court.
 It could be recalled that Dodou Sanneh, a former reporter of GRTS was sacked on 8 September 2006, while covering the presidential campaign of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), and reinstated within a week, given 20 days working leave, only to be sacked again on 20 November 2006.

“Anti-Drug Officers use Batons to Hit My Uncle on the Head” Deceased’s Niece Tells Court

 



Ebou Lowe & Eku Gran



A niece to the deceased, who is alleged to have being torture to dead by anti-narcotic officers has told the Special Criminal Division that the first accused person, Ebou Lowe used  baton to hit his uncle, now a deceased while effecting arrest on him.
“The 1st accused hit him on the head with a baton many times, pull his Rasta’s and starts hitting his head on the wall” Isatou Jallow, a student tell the packed court room. She is testifying as the sixth prosecution witness.
“I saw everything because I was standing right front of his window,” she added. She further told the court that the 1st accused forced his uncle into the house because his hands were cuffed at the back. “He pleaded with them to put on his hat but the 1st accused continue beating him.”
Ebou Lowe and Eku Grant were alleged to have unlawfully caused the death of one Cherno Alieu Suwareh by hitting him on the head and knocking his head against the wall on the 25th of March, 2011 in Bakau.
After the incident he said, “I was called to the police headquarters to identify the accused person who were involve” she said.
“But I did not know the number of offices r who came to arrest my uncle” she said during cross-examination by lawyer Badou Conteh, counsel of the 1st accused person.
The witness denied seeing his uncle swallowing substance at the time of his arrest.
“My uncle does not consume drugs” she said. The counsel however put it to the witness that she wouldn’t see it because she was not present. But the witness remains defiant.
 “I was standing right there and I  saw the  1st accused hitting  my uncle many times.”
She also denied the deceased being a drug trafficker or a sickly person.
During cross-examination with Lamin Camara, counsel for the second accused the witness said she did not have the opportunity to talk to deceased after the incident because he was in comma and later die.
 “I couldn’t know the cause of the death because I am not a doctor” she said when the lawyer asked.
Edrissa Jallo who also gives evidence as the 7th prosecution witness said the deceased was bleeding all over when the officers were taken him away. “He was bleeding on his left and right temple but the 1st accused keeps hitting him.”
The witness however, denied doing any drug transaction with the deceased when the defense alleged. I’m putting it to you that you both are  in drug trafficking business” lawyer Conteh advanced but the witness remained defiant.
His statement was tendered by lawyer Camara as evidence when the witness said his statement did mention about the second accused.
Testifying earlier was a police officer attached to the police headquarters. Jawo Keita who gave evidence as pw5 said he received the 1st accused person from the Brusibi police station. He added that a search was conducted in the 1st accused house in Banjulinding and a baton was found.
The baton was tender as evidence.
Case resumes 25, July 2011.