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UDP national treasurer appeal dismissed

Jul 31, 2015, 10:27 AM | Article By: Halimatou Ceesay

The Gambia Court of Appeal presided over by Appeal Court President Justice E.F. M’bai, assisted by Justice Wadda and Justice Awa Bah, yesterday dismissed the appeal case filed by the United Democratic Party (UDP) national treasurer, Amadou Sanneh.

When the case was called, DPP represented the state while senior counsel Ousainou Darboe and R. Mendy appeared for the appellant.

The president of the Court of Appeal, Justice M’Bai, then said the appeal was unanimously dismissed, adding that the reasons would be given later.

The reason for the dismissal of the appeal would be given on 15 October 2015.

Amadou Sanneh was challenging the decision of the Special Criminal Court presided over by then Justice Nkea, who convicted and sentenced him to five years in prison on 18 December 2013.

However, the appeal has suffered series of setbacks before both counsel finally adopted their briefs, and senior counsel Darboe urged the court to allow the appeal and acquit him while the Deputy Director of public Prosecutions, M.B. Abubakar, urged the court to dismiss the appeal.

It would be recalled that the state in count one accused Amadou Sanneh (National Treasurer of United Democratic Party), that sometime in September 2013 in Banjul and diverse places in The Gambia, he conspired with others to commit an act with a seditious intention, and thereby committed an offence.

Count two stated that Amadou Sanneh (National Treasurer of the United Democratic Party) sometime in September 2013, with the intent to bring hatred or contempt or excite disaffection against the person of the President of The Republic of The Gambia or the Government of The Gambia, printed a malicious document titled “ATTESTATION” on a letterhead paper of the United Democratic Party (UDP), and thereby committed an offence.

The state in count four further accused Amadou Sanneh (National Treasurer of the United Democratic Party) that sometime in September 2013, he falsely made a declaration before one Bakary Baldeh, a commissioner of oaths, with the knowledge that the said declaration was false and thereby committed an offence.