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Breaking News:Gambian Court Pronounces Casamance Rebels Guilty on Terrorism Charges!!
By Correspondent Modou Ceesay, Banjul.
.jpg) Nine Casamance rebels recently linked to terrorism activities in The Gambia, have been convicted . The men who were arrested and charged with terror activities are yet to receive their jail term sentences, as the Presiding Magistrate B. Y Camara said there are pending charges yet to be exhausted by the court. Appearing before the Regional Court in Banjul, the accused persons were formally pronounced guilty. Magistrate Camara ruled that the accused persons were found guilty, as charged by the Prosecution. The accused rebels were accused of an “Unlawful Possession of Gambian ID Cards.” and conspiracy to commit act of terrorism. The Prosecution had earlier argued in a court deposition that the accused persons were bent on destabilizing the tiny West African country. It also alleges that the accused persons were engaged in espionage activities. The court also heard about photographs taken by the accused persons or documents of confidential nature concerning security installations in The Gambia. These documents, the prosecution argues, would directly or indirectly benefit enemies of the state.
The accused persons had earlier dismissed the charges. They denied engaging in terror activities. The men had also denied obtaining Gambian IDS by false pretense. They claimed to have obtained the said documents from Immigration agents.
It would be recalled that the Freedom Newspaper had earlier reported about the arrest of these rebels. They were granted entry into the country, by Gambia’s Immigration agents and Customs border guards. Few days later, the accused persons were rounded up in Serre-Kunda and accused of subversive activities. Three border guards lost their jobs. They were subjected to security interrogations before receiving their marching orders.
Earlier on, the Director of Public Prosecution at the state law offices in Banjul, Emmanuel Fagbenle informed the court that the accused persons have admitted in their cautionary statements that they falsely obtained Gambian ID Cards. The DPP also said the convicts have all clearly testified in their statements to the police that they came from different villages. DPP Fagbenle also argues that it was against the Immigration laws of The Gambia for non citizens to falsely obtain the nation’s national papers.
Meanwhile, two of the accused persons have pleaded guilty to the charge of obtaining Gambia birth certificate, while two others had admitted entering the Gambia without a permit. One of the accused persons had pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to obtain a Gambian passport through false declaration.
Jailing Verdict Pending
Addressing a packed court room, Magistrate B. Y Camara said the accused person’s fate would be decided soon. The magistrate had decided to put the conviction verdict on hold, pending the completion of the rest of the charges.
The Prosecution is calling for harsh sentences against the accused persons. It also wants to see the deportation of the accused persons upon the completion of the jail terms.
Relationship Between Banjul and Dakar.
Prior to the conviction of these nine rebels linked to the administration of President Abdoulie Wade, authorities in Dakar had earlier asked for the release of the detainees. Banjul responded by accusing the accused persons of being rebels agents loyal to the Wade Government. They call these rebels the Jakai. Authorities in Banjul believe that the Jakai rebels work hand in hand with Government forces in Senegal to fight the MFDC rebel faction in Casamance. The Gambian leader has long been linked to supporting the MFDC, a charge he flatly denies.
The presence of top run away Gambian army officers in Dakar had strained the relationship between the two sister countries. Jammeh is unhappy, because Wade is refusing to handover the perceived dissidents.
At the beginning of this year, Senegalese border agents were also jailed in the Gambia on similar charges. Following a Presidential pardon the convicts were freed. They were asked to immediately leave Banjul.
In another development, the sacked Banjul Mayor Pa Sallah Jeng has been freed by the Brikama Magistrate courts. The popular Mayor was cleared from any wrongdoings by the Regional court. The presiding magistrate rules that the corruption charges brought against the former Mayor were baseless and not supported by facts and evidence. The prosecution, continued the magistrate, had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubts. Consequently, the case against Pa Sallah Jeng was dismissed. The former Mayor walked out of court as a happy man. |
Posted on Thursday, October 25, 2007 (Archive on Wednesday, October 31, 2007)
Posted by PNMBAI Contributed by PNMBAI
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