afrol News, 8 August - Thursday 9 August has been set aside as the date of judgment of the four civilians accused of conspiring with some security officers to overthrow The Gambia government from power on 21 March 2006.

The four coup plotters - Tamsir Jasseh, Alieu Jobe, Demba Dem and Omar Faal - had been arraigned before Justice Anin-Yeboah of the High Court in Banjul since 2006.

On 19 April, 10 Gambian soldiers were sentenced to prison terms ranging from life to 10 years after they were found guilty of treason charges by a military court in Yundum Barracks, 25 km from Banjul. These soldiers’ crimes were linked to 21 March abortive coup led by the former Defence Chief of Staff, Col. Ndure Cham who had since then fled the country.

During the last sitting, counsels of both sides had adopted their submitted court address.

The court heard testimonies of at least 12 prosecution witnesses, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier-General Lang Tombong Tamba. The defence attorneys had the chance to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses.

The fate of five other suspects, including the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mr Daba Marena, is still a mystery. On 3 April 2006, the announced the escape of the five suspects while they were being transported to a regional prison.

But families of the disappeared suspects are yet to hear from their members, raising suspicions that they might have been summarily executed.

Right activists have been picking bones with The Gambia government for turning the coup into a platform to get to its “perceived enemies” - lawyers, journalists and politicians who later became victims of late night arrests and horrendous tortures.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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