Tomorrow is D-Day in Dr Janneh and Co Treason Trial

The High Court in Banjul is tomorrow expected to deliver judgment in the treason and sedition trial involving former Information Minister Dr Amadou Scattred Janneh and three others.

Tomorrow’s judgment date was set following the completion of the final phase of the trial, which lasted nearly seven months.

Dr Amadou Scattred Janneh, it would be recalled, was arrested by state security agents at his Commit company office, a local IT firm, in June 2011 and subsequently placed in remand custody at the maximum security wing of the State Central Prison Mile 2, before being moved to Old Jeshwang Prison.

Dr Janneh 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.

The prosecution has called 14 witnesses, including police officers, investigators and civilians.

Dr Janneh, Ndey Tapha Sosseh, Mathew K Jallow and Famara Demba were accused, among others, of conspiring 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.”

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, at one time worked as the political and economic affairs officer of the US Embassy in Banjul.