Court reschedules trial of two journalists in Gambia

MESSAGE ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY 2013: Free Press Enhances National Development (Photo Credit: MSJoof/Globe/FPI)

The Banjul Magistrates Court on Tuesday rescheduled the trial of Musa S. Sheriff, Editor-In-Chief of The Voice newspaper and Sainey MK Marenah, a freelance journalist.

Both have pleaded not guilty to charges of “conspiracy” and “publication of false news” brought against them by the police over a political defections article published by The Voice on December 6, 2013.

They are expected to reappear in court on February 4, 2014 at 12 pm.

On 21 January, a Court Clerk told defence counsel Lamin S. Camara and prosecutor Corporal Camara to agree on a date for the case to resume. According to him, Magistrate Lamin Mbye, presiding, was attending to other matters.

The police in Banjul brought the charges against the Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of The Voice newspaper and a freelance journalist on January 16 following three days of detention.

Both have been granted bail by Magistrate Lamin Mbye in the sum of D20, 000 (about $540) each with one Gambian surety when they first appeared in court on Thursday.

Their lawyer Lamin S. Camara had argued the journalists were detained beyond the legal limit of 72 hours, while police prosecutor object to bail when the case was mentioned.