Monday, April 4, 2011

Criminal Charges against WCR Journalist reduced to one

BB Baldeh, WCR
The criminal charges brought against West Coast Radio (WCR) Journalist and Producer, Bakary B. Baldeh has been cut down to one on March 31, 2011.
Baldeh was charged with two counts of “conspiracy to commit a felony” and “incitement to violence” in a criminal suit brought against him by the police at the Kanifing Magistrate Court, presided over by Magistrate Sheriff B. Tabally. He is being tried along with four members of the Fajara Golf Club.
On Thursday, the lower court decided to struck-out Count Two “Incitement to Violence, Contrary to Section 59B (1) (b) of the Criminal Code Cap 10:01 Volume 3 Laws of The Gambia 2009”. The particulars of offence stated that Lamin Drammeh, Lamin Tamba, Almamy Jagne, Bakary Njie and Bakary B. Baldeh; on or about the 11th February 2011 at Fajara and diverse places in the Kanifing Municipality of the Republic of The Gambia; unlawfully without lawful excuse; make a statement through West Coast Radio implying the boycotting of the Baby Mariam Yahya Jammeh’s Golf Competition organized by the Gambia Golf Association in desirable to do so calculated to lead the destruction or damage to the game, association and or competition; thereby committed an offence.

The removal of the above charge followed an application by defence counsel Pap Cheyassin Secka, who argued that the charge is not known to law.
Baldeh now faces one count of “Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, Contrary to Section 368 of the Criminal Code Cap 10:01 Volume III Laws of The Gambia”. The particulars stated that Lamin Drammeh, Lamin Tamba, Almamy Jagne, Bakary Njie and Bakary B. Baldeh on or about the 11th of February, 2011 at Fajara and diverse places in the Kanifing Municipality of the Republic of The Gambia; you jointly amongst others conspired to commit a felony to wit: incitement to violence; thereby committed an offence.
He has since denied any wrong doing and he is being represented by Counsel Lamin Camara. So far, the 1st Prosecution Witness, Lady Njaimeh Jawara, the former First Lady of The Gambia has already opened her testimony. The prosecutor is Superintendent Camara.
The case is due to continue on April 12, 2011 by 1230 GMT. 

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