Gambia ALERT: Six journalists face prison sentence for defaming President .jpg)
Jammeh
Six Gambian journalists could go to jail if found guilty of six criminal
charges of sedition and defamation resulting from a publication on June 11, 2009 Gambian Press Union(GPU) statement criticising President Yahya Jammeh over an interview he granted slandering slain journalist, Deyda Hydara, the Accra based Media Foundation For West Africa reported.
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)s sources reported that when the case was opened on July 31, the Gambias state prosecutor requested the Banjul High Court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Fangbenle to convict the journalists on all the six counts of criminal defamation and sedition.
Prior to this request, President Jammeh had characteristically threatened in
an anniversary speech on July 22 that the accused journalists would not be
spared but would be punished as the laws of the country require.
If found guilty, each of the accused journalists would pay a fine of a
minimum of 50,000Dalasis (about US$ 1800) and maximum of 250,000 Dalasis (about US$ 9,000) and prison sentence from six months to two years for each count or both.
However, following a request by defence counsel Lamin Camara, the court
adjourned the case to August 3, to enable him make his final submission.
On July 30, two prominent witnesses and newspaper managing editors, Pap Saine of The Point and Sam Sarr of Foroyaa , had testified before the
court denying the criminal charges. The other accused had also done same on July 29. Abubacarr Saidykhan was arrested and also charged but was freed because the court found no case against him.
Prof. Kwame Karikari
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra, Ghana
Tel 233-21 242470
Fax 233 -21 221084
Email: <mailto:mfwa@africaonline.com.gh> mfwa@africaonline.com.gh
Website: <http://www.mediafound.org> www.mediafound.org
