The treason
appeal case filed by former Navy commander Rear Admiral Sarjo Fofana was
yesterday deferred by a three-member panel of judges of the Gambia Court of
Appeal.
Sarjo Fofona filed an appeal before the said court challenging the decision of the Special Criminal Court that convicted and sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment on treasonable offences.
When the case was mentioned in court, both parties announced their respective representation.
The case was then adjourned to 31 July 2013, for the appellant’s counsel to file additional grounds of appeal.
Sarjo Fofona was convicted and sentenced alongside Lang Tombong Tamba, former army chief of defence staff, by the Special Criminal Court in Banjul in May 2011, to 20 years imprisonment.
They were convicted on four counts of treasonable offences in connection with the 21st March 2006 abortive coup attempt, alleged to have been masterminded by the former chief of defence staff, Colonel Ndure Cham.
Tamba and Fofana were sentenced on count one, which was conspiracy to commit treason, to 20 years imprisonment, and on count two, which was treason, to another 20 years imprisonment.
Lang Tombong Tamba was also sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on count three, concealment of treason and, on count four, concealment of treason, to another 10 years imprisonment
The charges preferred against the former senior military officers included conspiracy to commit treason, treason, and concealment of treason, which charges both men denied.
