On August 6, a Banjul High court presided over by a Nigerian judge, Emmanuel Fagbele, convicted the journalists on all the six counts of criminal “defamation” and “sedition”. The charges followed a June 11, 2009 Gambia Press Union (GPU) press statement that criticized President Jammeh over comments he made slandering the memory of Deyda Hydara, a journalist, who was murdered in 2004 by as-yet unknown assailants.

According to a statement issued here Tuesday by Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) the lead counsel of the journalists, Lamin Camara, filed the appeal asking the Gambia Court of Appeal to overturn the High Court judgment on the grounds that the criminal charges on which his clients were tried and convicted contravenes the 1997 Gambian Constitution.

The MFWA however said this appeal offers little hope for the journalists, as it is not likely they would be freed. “It is also impossible for the journalists to secure bail pending the outcome of the appeal. Hearing is likely to begin in October as the judiciary is currently on legal vacation,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, according to the MFWA statement, the seven-month old baby of one of the journalists, Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, Vice President of the GPU was returned to her in the dreaded Mile Two prison on August 15 after the baby was initially sent to the SOS Children’s Village for foster care.

Source African Press Agency

Net News Publisher

“This latest development is worrying and constitutes the latest affront to free expression and independence of the media in the Gambia”, MFWA Executive Director, Prof. Kwame Karikari said in a press release.

Hinting at the fresh charges preferred against seven persons made up of journalists and executive members of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) who were granted bail on Monday after pressure from civil society organisations for their unconditional release, Karikari further deplored the attitude of the Gambian authorities.

“MFWA is convinced that this latest move by the court confirms the intention of the authorities to jail the journalists by all means”, he slammed.

Arrested separately on 15 June, the seven stood trial on June 11 for issuing a statement against President Yahya Jammeh’s speaking ill of slain editor, Deyda Hydara.

The seven were again on Friday remanded in prison custody by the Banjul High Court until July 8, when they would make appearance to answer to criminal charges including “conspiracy to defame”, “defamation”, “conspiracy to publish with seditious intention” and “publishing with seditious intention”.

Source African Press Agency

Net News Publisher