#Article (Archive)

UDP national treasurer’s trial resumes today

Dec 12, 2013, 9:05 AM | Article By: Malamin L.M. Conteh

The trial involving the national treasurer of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UPD), Amadou Sanneh, is expected to resume today at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul before Justice Emmanuel Nkea.

Amadou Sanneh was arraigned alongside Malang Fatty and Sambou Fatty, charged with conspiracy to commit an act with seditious intention, sedition, possession of seditious publication and false swearing.

The 1st accused, Malang Fatty and 2nd accused, Sambou Fatty had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges.         

During the last hearing defence counsel R.Y. Mendy informed the court that the 3rd accused opted not to give evidence in his defence in exercise of his constitutional right, and that the defence counsel would address the court in writing.

The state on count one accused Malang Fatty, Sambou Fatty and Amadou Sanneh (National Treasurer of United Democratic Party), sometime in September 2013, at Banjul and in diverse places in The Gambia, within the jurisdiction of the court, conspired amongst themselves to commit an act with seditious intention and thereby committed an offence.

 Count two stated that Malang Fatty, Sambou Fatty and Amadou Sanneh (National Treasurer of United Democratic Party) sometime in September 2013, at Banjul and within the jurisdiction of the court, 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 malicious document titled “ATTESTATION” on a letter headed paper of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and thereby committed an offence.

Count three indicated that Malang Fatty sometime in September 2013, at Banjul and elsewhere in The Gambia and within the jurisdiction of the court, had in his possession a seditious document titled ‘ATTESTATION’ and thereby committed an offence.

The state on count four further accused Amadou Sanneh (National Treasurer of United Democratic Party) that sometime in September 2013, at Banjul and within the jurisdiction of the court, falsely made a declaration before one Bakary Baldeh, a Commissioner of Oaths with knowledge that the said declaration was false and thereby committed an offence.