The two journalists on trial are to face amended charges at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court before senior Magistrate Lamin Mbye.
Musa Sheriff, editor-in-chief and publisher of The Voice newspaper, and Sainey M.K. Marenah, were charged with conspiracy to commit a felony and publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public, which both denied.
When the case was called yesterday, the prosecuting officer, police corporal Camara, told the court that the prosecution was applying to amend the charges against the accused persons.
At that juncture, the defense counsel, Sagarr Jahateh, rose and told the court that the case could not proceed, as the leading defence counsel, Lamin S. Camara, had written to the court for an adjournment, as he was out of the jurisdiction.
She proposed dates as indicated in the letter.
The case was at that juncture adjourned to 13, 19 and 20 February 2014
Sainey M.K. Marena and Musa Sheriff were accused on count one that on 6 December, 2013, in Banjul and diverse to have conspired among themselves to publish on the Voice Newspaper medium caption: “19 Green Youths Joins the opposition UDP” dated 6 December 2013, and thereby committed an offence.
On count two the two journalists were accused that on aforementioned date, month and places, whilst employed as Editor-in-chief and reporter respectively at the Voice Newspaper medium, they made a publication with caption: “19 Green Youths Joins the opposition UDP” dated 6 December 2013, Vol 6 No 117 ISSN; 07961308, knowing or having reason to believe that the said publication was likely to cause fear to the public or disturb the public peace, and thereby committed an offence.
