Gambia sentenced seven soldiers to 9 years in Whatsapp trial
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - A Court Martial at Yundum Barracks, about 15km outside Banjul, on Monday sentenced seven soldiers of the Gambia Armed Forces to nine years in jail over a Whatsapp-recorded meetings planning to topple the government of President Adama Barrow in 2017.
PANA report that, on Friday, the court, presided over by President Colonel Salifu Bojang, and assisted by Advocate Judge Sainabou Waada-Ceesay found Cpt. Yahya Jammeh, Lt. Abdoulie Jarju, Lt. Yahya Jammeh, Sgt. Babucarr Sanneh, Sgt. Malick Bojang, Lance Corporal Abba Badjie, Private Mbemba Camara and Private Alieu Sanneh guilty of plotting to overthrow the government.
Corporal Sulayman Sanyang, Corporal Lamin Gibba, Corporal Lamin Bojang and Lance Corporal Samboujang Bojang were acquitted and discharged.
They were initially arrested with four of the soldiers. They were charged with nine offences for treason and mutiny.
According to their initial particulars of offence, the officers have conspired to unlawfully overthrow the government of The Gambia by arresting all ministers, battalion commanders and senior members of The Gambia Armed Forces, as well as forcefully take armoury from guards.
In his ruling Colonel Bojang said the eight men plotted to overthrow the legitimate government by plotting to stage a mutiny, seize control of the army armories, arresting senior army officials including the army commander and government ministers.
In the same development, a court martial also frees Brigadier Generals Umpa Mendy and Ansumana Tamba, saying they were not guilty of desertion.
The two generals were charged with desertion contrary to Gambia Armed Forces Act after they allegedly abandoned official duties for one year without official authority to accompany former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh to Equatorial Guinea in January 2017.
They were arrested in 2018 after they returned to the country from Equatorial Guinea.
Mendy denied the charge and argued in his defense that his whereabouts were known to the Gambia Armed Forces command. Tamba also told the court that Saul Badgie, a former army commander, instructed him to accompany the former president to exile.
Badgie also left with Jammeh and remains with him in exile.
“I take this as a will of God, and more willing today to serve my country,” Tamba told waiting reporters after the verdict.
The sentence can be appealed.
-0- PANA MSS/VAO 27May2018
