Libel, False Information Case Deferred

The criminal case involving Saidy A. Sowe, who is standing trial at the Banjul Magistrates' Court for alleged libel and giving false information against Yankuba Touray, could not proceed on Tuesday.

The trial, which was scheduled to commence on Tuesday 17th February 2009, before Magistrate James, could not proceed as the accused Saidy Sowe told the court that he want to secure a legal counsel to represent him in the case. He therefore applied to the court to grant him an adjournment to enable him to search for legal representation.

His application was granted and the case stand adjourned until 3rd March 2009.

Count one, the particulars of the alleged offence, reveal that in the month of October 2008, in the city of Banjul, with intent to expose Yankuba Touray to hatred, contempt, ridicule or damage to his profession or reputation, the accused Saidy Sowe made a false allegation in a written petition to the Office of the President that part of the proceeds derived from Destiny Night Club was for the said Yankuba Touray and thereby committed an offence.

While on count two, the alleged offence, states that some time in the month of October 2008, in the city of Banjul, the accused Saidy Sowe presented a petition to the Office of the President, State House, claiming that EL MONDO Bar and Restaurant was illegally taken from him by Yankuba Touray the then Secretary of State for Tourism, which he knew to be false or does not believe to be true, and thereby committed an offence.

In a separate development, the criminal case involving Kutubo Jarju and Samba Jarju who are also standing trial at the Banjul Magistrates' Court could not go ahead on Tuesday. The accused persons informed the court that they want legal counsel to represent them in the case and therefore applied to the court to grant them an adjournment to enable them to search for legal representation.

The case has since been adjourned until 3rd March 2009. According to the particulars of the alleged offence, on 31st December 2008, the accused persons Kutubo Jarju and Samba Jarju gave false information to a public officer in a letter they presented to the Office of the President stating that the honourable Minister of Local Government and Lands, Ismail Sambou, Chief of Kombo South Ajieh Janneh, Chief Personal Assistant Mr Jerreh Demba, two Physical Planning officers, had given their family land at Kajabang village to one Mr Hassan a Lebanese without due regard to their plight which in fact they knew such information was false or does not believe to be true. In fact the said land belonged to the Sanyang Kunda family.