‘Former GRTS reporter has case to answer’

Dodou Sanneh, former reporter with the Gambia Radio and Television Services, who is being tried for allegedly giving false information, was yesterday told by the court that he has a case to answer.

This followed a ruling by Magistrate Manyima Bojang of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on a no-case submission made by his defence counsel, Borry Touray.

When the case was called, defence counsel Borry Touray told the court that the defence was applying to make a no-case submission on behalf of the accused person.

“I humbly submit that the prosecution has failed to make any prima-facie case against the accused person, and as such the court should dismiss the charge and discharge the accused person,” he said.

Counsel added that the offence before this court was, giving false information to a public servant, adding that if one of the ingredients failed then the prosecution has failed to make any prima facie case against the accused person.    

Counsel at length stated that since the Office of the President is not defined by the constitution as a public servant, then the prosecution had failed to proof a prima facie against the accused person.

Delivering her ruling, the trial magistrate told the court that the section of the constitution quoted by the defence was being misused by defence counsel, by way of interpreting the section in their favour.

She consequently overruled the no-case submission, and called on the accused person to enter into his defence.

The case was at that juncture adjourned till 8 August 2011, for defence.

It would be recalled that Dodou Sanneh allegedly in this year wrote to the Office of the President, stating that his service was wrongfully terminated as a reporter with the Gambia Radio and Television Services, which information he knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence.