British Couple  To Serve One Year In Jail With Hard Labor                                    

…..Principal Magistrate Edrissa M’Bai Issue Warnings To Would Be Saboteurs!!!!

By Staff Writer Mariam Jallow, Banjul

The British couple, who were recently found guilty on sedition charges, will have to spend one year in jail in The Gambia, before they could reunite with their families in the United Kingdom, Principal Magistrate Edrissa M’Bai ruled Tuesday.  60 year old David Fulton and his wife Fiona Fulton, will spend the new year in jail, while the court slams a mandatory fine of half a million dalasi, which is approximately #6,250 pounds sterling. The court also rules that the couple would be exposed to  hard labor work, during the period of their jail term.  Inmates sentenced to hard labor are usually exposed to  rice farming, fetching fire woods, architecture and other manual jobs.

The trial magistrate Edrissa M’Bai said his decision was meant to signal to other detractors, bent on smearing the name of The Gambia, its President and her people.  Mr. M’Bai said he was shocked to learn that the convicts were posed to tarnish the name of the President and The Gambia, through the issuance of libelous materials. “I found the offences committed by the accused persons  to be very shocking. They have shown no respect for the country, the government and the president of the republic. I will send a clear message to the offenders by sentencing them to hard labor.” said magistrate M’Bai

While vehemently condemning the actions of the two Briton nationals, magistrate M’Bai said the accused persons ought to have respect for authority. He says the accused persons were bent on smearing the image of the country, through the circulation of libelous emails. He said such moves would not be condoned, as he wasted no time in sending the convicts to prison.

The British couple will spend the new year in jail. David would be 61 years old,  by the time he comes out of prison, while his wife Fiona would clocked 47. The couple left their adopted Gambian daughter behind, who is being taken care of by some family members.

Magistrate M’Bai who rejected the convicts plea for clemency said the prosecution had proven its case beyond all reasonable doubts. He rules that in the event the convicts failed to pay the stipulated fine, they would spend an additional six months in prison.

The verdict was greeted with shock and disbelief, as the couple could be seen standing helplessly on the dock. Their hope for freedom have been dazed away, with magistrate M’Bai imposing custodial sentence on them. The convicts appeared very sad and worried by the magistrate’s pronouncement of a one year jail term against them. Their lawyer Antouman Gaye, could not just believe that the magistrate was going to ignore his clients passionate pleas for clemency.

The convicts  had between 14 and 19 days to file an appeal. Lawyer Antouman Gaye was quoted as saying that his clients would contest the magistrate’s judgment.

Officials of the British High Commission stood by the couple throughout the trial. A local diplomat who spoke to our reporter said he was outraged by the magistrate’s judgment. The official who wished not to be named said he questions the impartiality of Gambia’s judicial system. “ I think the magistrate was too heavy-handed. I now believe that there is no rule of law in The Gambia. Gambia's judicial system is a joke.”he said.