By Soury Camara & Dawda Fye

The prosecution in the sedition case against Fatou Jaw Manneh yesterday amended the charges earlier brought against the accused, changing it to false publication with intent to cause alarm and fear in society and uttering seditious words.

Following the amendment, the defence counsel applied for PW1, who earlier testified on condition of anonymity consented to by both the defence and state counsels, to be cross-examined under the previous agreement.

During the subsequent cross-examination, PW1 adduced that he had neither seen the accused speak to anybody about any seditious matter nor ever heard her utter any seditious words. He explained that the accused admitted to have granted an interview to a newspaper but could not say to which newspaper the alleged interview was granted.

The defence counsel then charged that PW1 only asked the accused to write what he wanted her to write but failed to ask her to write the name of the news paper. In response PW1 said: "I already know the name of the newspaper."

In defending his testimony, PW1 read an extract from the exhibit, running: "Now living in the United States, Fatou's fairy pen can be dispatched to The Independent." However the different dismissed this, saying that the dispatch and interview are different.

The defence counsel put it to PW1 that the most he had done in this case was to read an extract from the exhibit, denying that he knew anything about the case. Defence Counsel Jobarteh claimed that PW1's failure to take notes of the questions and answer session shows his inefficiency. The Director of Public Prosecution, Emmanuel Fagbenle, urged the court to expunge the statement, saying that it is incriminating.

The defence counsel made reference to sections 202 and 203 of the Evidence Act to argue for the necessity to test the accuracy, veracity and efficiency of the witness's testimony, noting that the matter before the court is a serious one.

At the end of the cross-examination, PW1 conceded that the accused never told him that she had granted an interview to any corporate entity.

The prosecution then invited PW2 to give testimony in support of the case against the accused. PW2 started by enumerating the various development projects by the Jammeh regime but he was advised to attune his conduct with the procedure of the court as he was shouting.  He was also reminded that as any statement he made is important he should take the proceeding seriously.

The defence counsel stated that PW2 should be more serious as ignorance of the law is no excuse.

The case continues on 27th June.

Source:The Point Banjul