afrol News, 10 August - Three Gambians - Tamsir Jasseh, Alieu Jobe and Omar Faal - have been convicted and sentenced to 20 years with hard labour by a High Court in Banjul after they were found guilty of treason. Demba Dem, a former lawmaker, was acquitted and discharged for lack of sufficient evidence.

The three have been charged with treason, conspiracy to commit treason and providing accessory after treason. Their charges stemmed from the 21 March 2006 abortive coup plot hatched by a handful of Gambian soldiers. They pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

But the trial judge, Justice Anin-Yeboah, said after perusing through the evidence of both prosecution and defence, the court was convinced that former had proven its case beyond reasonable doubts against Jasseh, Jobe and Faal. She said the prosecution could not prove a case against Dem.

On 19 April, 10 military officers were found guilty of the same crime by a military tribunal. They were sentenced from 10 to life in prison.

Last month, six security top brass, including the former Chief of Defence Staff, Col. Vincent Jatta, were released on presidential amnesty after spending more than a year behind bars. The officers were accused of conspiring to commit treason but they were never brought before any court of law.

Their arrest and detention was connected to the 21 March coup plot, believed to be orchestrated by the army chief, Col Ndure Cham who has since been at large.

The fate of five other coup suspects is still not known. Gambian authorities said the suspects escaped while they were being transferred to a regional prison but most people hold the belieft that they have been tortured to death. Since then, nothing has been heard from them.

Right activists have blamed The Gambia government for hiding behind the coup to get to its “perceived enemies”. The aftermath of the foiled coup saw a mass crack down on innocent soldiers, politicians, journalists, lawyers and others.

By Musa Saidykhan

© afrol News

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