Fresh Charges for Pap Saine "Accused of obtaining Passport by False Declaration"

Mr Pap Saine, co-publisher and managing editor of The Point Newspaper, has been charged with another criminal offence.

Mr Saine was yesterday arraigned at the Banjul Magistrates' Court, before Magistrate Lamin George, charged with obtaining registration by false pretence and obtaining a passport by false declaration all contrary to the laws of The Gambia. He vehemently denied the charges.

Count 1, Mr Saine is charged with obtaining registration by false pretence contrary to section 295 of criminal code cap 10 volume III laws of The Gambia. The alleged offence revealed that Pap Saine sometime in the year 1994 in the city of Banjul knowing to be non-citizen of The Gambia unlawfully procured and obtained a Gambian birth certificate No CLP 289 by false pretence thereby committed an offence.

On count 2, Mr Saine is charged with obtaining a passport by false declaration contrary to section 31(h) of the Immigration Act cap 16.02. The alleged offence stated that Pap Saine on or about the 21st May 2007 at the immigration headquarters in the city of Banjul by false declaration obtained a Gambian passport No PC 183902 for himself thereby committed an offence.

Meanwhile he was granted court bail not withstanding objections raised by the prosecution. The bail conditions are that he should furnish the court with two Gambian sureties in the sum of D10, 000 each. He should also report to the police every Friday.

The case was at length adjourned until 11th March 2009.

In a separate case, Mr Pap Saine is expected to appear today at the Kanifing Magistrates' Court where he is currently standing trail on a charge of false publication and broadcasting, a charge he denies.