In Asylum Seekers' case, Three Discharged, One Pleads not Guilty

The case against Saihou Ceesay, Baboucarr Sowe, Masaneh Manka, Musa Jarjue and Ansu Sanyang- the five charged with falsely claiming to have ties with former Chief of Defence Staff Ndure Cham in alleged efforts to enhance their chances of securing asylum in Ukraine- resumed yesterday, 14th April 2008 before Principal Magistrate Buba Jawo of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court. The prosecuting officer, ASP Bojang, applied to withdraw the charge against the accused persons all of whom had denied the allegation.

The prosecutor however  informed the court that he was substituting the charge with two other charges, one each against Saihou Ceesay and Musa Jarjue.

According to the new charge, Saihou Ceesay made a seditious publication at Bundung and diverse places in The Gambia. The magistrate however transferred Saihou Ceesay's case to Bundung Magistrates' Court and granted him bail in the sum of D100,000 with a Gambian as surety.

For Musa Jarjue, who was represented by Lawyer Borry Touray, the new charge stated that between September 2007 and February 2008 at Serrekunda and diverse places in The Gambia assisted one Yunusa Jarjue to procure a Gambian passport, knowing that Yunusa Jarjue had committed an offence and fled the country. He pleaded not guilty.Musa Jarjue was also granted bail in the sum of D50,000 with a Gambian as surety.

As a result, Magistrate Jawo discharged Babucarr Sowe, Masaneh Manka and Ansu Sanyang, following the withdrawal of the previous charge against them before adjourning the remaining case to 30th April 2008 for hearing.