Judgment due in ex-information minister’s case

The trial on treason and sedition charges involving former Information Minister Dr Amadou Scatred Janneh and three others has reached its climax at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul, with judgment date set for 17th January 2012.

This development followed the adoption of briefs by both parties during yesterday’s court proceedings, after both parties made amendments in their briefs.

Defence counsel LS Camara, whose brief was 42 pages, told the court that the defence wished to make corrections before the court could adopt his brief.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, M Abdullahi, also made some corrections, before both briefs were adopted.

Justice E Nkea after accepting the briefs of both parties then adjourned the case till Tuesday 17th January 2012, for judgment.

The prosecution in order to prove its case called 14 witnesses, including police officers, investigators and civilians.

It would be recalled that Dr Janneh, Ndey Tapha Sosseh, Mathew K Jallow and Famara Demba were accused, among others, of conspiring among themselves on 26th May 2011 at diverse places in The Gambia, to print and distribute 100 T-shirts which carried a ‘seditious’ statement: “Coalition for Change - The Gambia: End Dictatorship Now.”

Dr Janneh also faces a two-count charge of seditious acts alongside Michael C Ucheh Thomas, Modou Keita and Ebrima Jallow, all of whom were arraigned at the high court in Banjul, and have denied the charges.

State prosecutors accused Dr Janneh on count one of treason, stating that he conspired with Ndey Tapha Sosseh, Mathew K Jallow, Famara Demba, and others at large, on 26th May 2011 in diverse places in The Gambia, to overthrow the Gambia government.

Dr Janneh, Ndey Tapha Sosseh, Mathew K Jallow, and Famara Demba were also accused of preparing to overthrow the government by unlawful means, and on count three, prosecutors further charged Dr Janneh, Modou Keita, Ebrima Jallow, and Micheal C Ucheh Thomas with seditious acts.

Prosecutors said the four accused persons and others at large conspired to print and distribute 100 T-shirts which carried ‘seditious’ statements: “Coalition for Change - The Gambia: End Dictatorship Now.”

Dr Janneh and his co-accused were also charged with intent to cause or bring into hatred, contempt or excite disaffection against the person of the President or the Government of The Gambia, by printing and distributing 100 T-shirts.

Janneh, a former political science lecturer in the US, was at one time the political and economic affairs officer at the US Embassy in Banjul.

He was arrested in June 2011, and subsequently placed in remand custody at the maximum security wing at the State Central Prison Mile 2, before been moved to Old Jeshwang Prison.