By Landing Ceesay
Justice Basiru B.V.P Mahoney, the judge presiding over the alleged coup plot trial, has adjourned the case to the 6th of March 2023 for continuation due to the court’s inability to provide an interpreter for the State witness.
The trial was scheduled to proceed with the testimony of the fourth Prosecution witness (PW4) after the third Prosecution witness (PW3) completed his testimony on the last adjourned date.
The State (Prosecution) provided their fourth witness who is expected to testify in Mandinka, but the Court could not provide an interpreter to translate the witness’s testimony to English.
Justice Mahoney informed the parties that the clerk went around looking for an interpreter but could not find one.
The Deputy Director of Public Prosecution appearing for the State, AM Yusuf, told the court that the witness is the only one they prepared to testify today.
“Then our hands are tied, we have to adjourn the case,” Justice Mahoney responded and then proceeded to adjourn the case to the 6th of March for continuation.
Sanna Fadera (the 1st accused) and 3 other soldiers of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) and a Police Officer from the Gambia Police Force (GPF) are accused of an attempting to overthrow the government of President Adama Barrow and are charged with 5 counts including treason.
The defendants charged and standing trial are Lance Corporal Sanna Fadera (1st accused) Private Officer Gibril Darboe (2nd accused), Corporal Ebrima Sannoh (3rd accused), and Corporal Omar Njie (4th accused), and Fabakary Jawara (5th accused) who is the lone Police Officer charged alongside the Soldiers.
Count 1 of the charges; Treason contrary to section 35(1) (a) of the Criminal Code Cap 10:01 Vol 3 Revised Laws of the Gambia 2009.
The Particulars of the Offence: The Prosecutors alleged that L/Cpl Sanna Fadera, P/O Gibril Darboe, Cpl Ebrima Sannoh, S/I Fabakary Jawara and Lamin Jadama (now at large) during the year 2022 at Kafuta village and diverse places in the Gambia within the Jurisdiction of the Honourable Court prepared audio endeavoured to overthrow the Government of the Gambia by unlawful means and thereby committed an offence.
Count 2 of the charges; Treason contrary to section 35 (1) (g) of the Criminal Code Cap 10:01 Vol.3 Revised Laws of the Gambia 2009.
The Particulars of the Offence; the Prosecutors alleged that L/Cpl Sanna Fadera, P/O Gibril Darboe, Cpl Ebrima Sannoh, S/I Fabakary Jawara and Lamin Jadama (now at large) during the year 2022 at diverse places in the Gambia within the Jurisdiction of the Honourable Court agreed amongst themselves to overthrow the Government of the Gambia and thereby committed an offence.
Count 3 of the charges; Concealment of treason contrary to section 36 (a) of the Criminal Code Cap 10:01 Vol 3 Revised Laws of the Gambla 2009.
The Particulars of Offence: the Prosecutors alleged that P/O Gibril Darboe, Cpl Ebrima Sannoh, Cpl Omar Njie and S/I Fabakary Jawara during the year 2022 at diverse places in the Gambia within the Jurisdiction of the Honourable Court knowing that one L/Cp Sanna Fadera intend to commit treason to wit you failed to report it to a Minister, or a Magistrate or palice officer or a member of the Armed Forces and thereby committed an offence.
Count 4 of the charges: Concealment of treason contrary to section 36 (b) of the Criminal Code Cap 10:01 Vol.3 Revised Laws of the Gambia 2009.
The Particulars of Offence; P/O Gibril Darboe, Cpl Ebrima Sanno, Cpl Omar Njie during the year 2022 at diverse places in the Gambia within the Jurisdiction of the Honourable Court knowing that one L/Cpl Sanna Fadera intend to commit treason to wit you did not use other reasonable effort to prevent the commission of the offence and thereby committed an offence.
Count 5 of the charges, Inciting to mutiny contrary to section 40 (c) of the Criminal Code Cap 10:01 Vol.3 Revised Laws of the Gambia 2009.
The Particulars of the Offence; L/Cpl Sanna Fadera during the year 2022 at diverse places in the Gambia within the Jurisdiction of the Honourable Court attempted to incite one SGT Karamo Jatta, and one Cpt Mamat Jobe to commit an act of mutiny and thereby committed an offence.