The seven-count charge ranges from six counts of sedition to one count of publication of false news.
When the case was called, defence counsel Combeh Gaye Coker objected to the charges against her client on the grounds that they “are repetitious”.
However, the trial Judge, Justice Abi, overruled the objection.
The charges were then read to the accused and he pleaded not guilty and was denied bail by the trial judge again.
Readers would recall that the accused was earlier arraigned before Magistrate M.S. Jallow of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on a single-count of seditious intention, which he denied.
Magistrate M.S. Jallow denied him bail based on the grounds that the prosecution was yet to conclude their investigation.
Ceesay then applied for bail at the high court before Justice Abi and he was again denied bail.
The particulars of offence in count one stated that Abdoulie Ceesay, on 17 July 2015, at Sinchu Alajie Village and other diverse places in the Kanifing Municipality, within the jurisdiction of the court, with intent to excite disaffection against President Yahya Jammeh and the Government of The Gambia, acted with the same seditious intention by publishing and distributing pictures of a gun and five bullets, pointing towards the image of President Yahya Jammeh and thereby committed an offence.
Count two stated that Ceesay on the same date and place, with intent to excite disaffection against President Yahya Jammeh and the Gambia Government, acted with the same seditious intention by publishing and distributing a seditious phrase to wit: “The sniper is hereby advising all citizens and non-citizens to stay at their homes on Wednesday 22nd July 2015, as our struggle to kick off the dog, begins that very day. We are capable of doing anything and it might start from the celebration ground. Please be at your homes for your safety. Signed by the sniper 3, secretary to the group”, and thereby committed an offence.
Count three stated that Ceesay on the same date and place with intent to excite disaffection against President Yahya Jammeh and the Government, published pictures of a gun and five bullets pointing towards the image of President Yahya Jammeh and thereby committed an offence.
Ceesay was accused on count four that on the same date and place, with intent to excite disaffection against President Yahya Jammeh and the Government, published a seditious phrase to wit: “The sniper is hereby advising all citizens and non-citizens to stay at their homes on Wednesday 22nd July 2015, as our struggle to kick off the dog, begins that very day. We are capable of doing anything and it might start from the celebration ground. Please be at your homes for your safety. Signed by the sniper 3, secretary to the group”, and thereby committed an offence.
Count five further stated that Ceesay on the same date and place, with intent to excite disaffection against President Jammeh and the Government, distributed pictures of a gun and five bullets pointing towards the image of President Jammeh and thereby committed an offence.
Count six stated that Ceesay on the same date and place, with intent to excite disaffection against President Yahya Jammeh and the Government distributed a seditious phrase to wit: “The sniper is hereby advising all citizens and non-citizens to stay at their homes on Wednesday 22nd July 2015, as our struggle to kick off the dog, begins that very day. We are capable of doing anything and it might start from the celebration ground. Please be at your homes for your safety. Signed by the sniper 3, secretary to the group”, and thereby committed an offence.
Count seven stated that Ceesay on the same date and place, with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public or to disturb the public peace, published a seditious statement to wit: “The sniper is hereby advising all citizens and non-citizens to stay at their homes on Wednesday 22nd July 2015, as our struggle to kick off the dog, begins that very day. We are capable of doing anything and it might start from the celebration ground. Please be at your homes for your safety. Signed by the sniper 3, secretary to the group”, and thereby committed an offence.
The case continues on 31 August 2015.
