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SCC to decide on UDP national treasurer’s case today

Dec 18, 2013, 9:59 AM | Article By: Malamin L.M. Conteh

The Special Criminal Court in Banjul is today expected to deliver judgment in the trial involving Amadou Sanneh, the national treasurer of the main opposition United Democratic Party, UDP.

This development came following the announcement of both the prosecution and the defence that they have adopted their briefs.

Sanneh was arraigned alongside Malang Fatty and Sambou Fatty and charged with conspiracy to commit an act with seditious intention, sedition, possession of seditious publication and false swearing.

When the case was called at the last hearing, the director of the Public Prosecutions, S.H. Barkun, informed the court that he filed their address dated 2 December 2013, and he was adopting the said address.

Defence counsel R.Y. Mendy, also told the court that she was adopting her address and also applied for an extension of time to file her reply, which was granted.

She further argued that the criminal procedure rules were meant to protect the accused and not the prosecution, adding that the prosecution had replied on civil procedure rules, which were not applicable.

The case was then adjourned to 18 December 2013, for judgment.

The state in count one accused Malang Fatty, Sambou Fatty and Amadou Sanneh (National Treasurer of United Democratic Party), sometime in September 2013, at Banjul and in diverse places in The Gambia, within the jurisdiction of the court, conspired amongst themselves to commit an act with seditious intention and thereby committed an offence.

Count two stated that Malang Fatty, Sambou Fatty and Amadou Sanneh (National Treasurer of United Democratic Party) sometime in September 2013, at Banjul and within the jurisdiction of the court, with the intent to bring hatred or contempt or excite disaffection against the person of the President of The Republic of The Gambia or the Government of The Gambia, printed malicious document titled “ATTESTATION” on a letter headed paper of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and thereby committed an offence.

Count three indicated that Malang Fatty sometime in September 2013, at Banjul and elsewhere in The Gambia and within the jurisdiction of the court, had in his possession a seditious document titled ‘ATTESTATION’ and thereby committed an offence.

The state on count four further accused Amadou Sanneh (National Treasurer of United Democratic Party) that sometime in September 2013, at Banjul and within the jurisdiction of the court, falsely made a declaration before one Bakary Baldeh, a Commissioner of Oaths with knowledge that the said declaration was false and thereby committed an offence.