Gambia to pass law criminalizing market manipulation

The process of creating a new law on market manipulation is meant to comply with regional and global standards, says Alhagie Darboe, FIU director (Photo Credit: @JoofMS/TNBES).

Gambia: Journalists freed of ‘conspiracy’ and ‘false publication’ charges

They were arrested on January 13, 2014, detained beyond the legal limit of 72 hours and put on trial on January 16. They maintained their not guilty plea.  Photo credit: The Point

Agric officials charged with stealing, negligence pleads innocent

The Gambia: Court fines Egyptians over illegal fishing

The MV.SAFI fishing vessel is being held by the Navy but Magistrate Abeke had ordered for its release once the fine is paid. Photo of Banjul Ports taken from Access Gambia

A lower court in the Gambian capital, Banjul, has found two Egyptians guilty on a charge of ‘illegal fishing’ on Wednesday 23 April.

Ali Bahgatabd Alla Daoud and Hanishehata Abou El Hassan were sentenced to a fine of D200, 000 by Magistrate Hillary Abeke, who is presiding, at the Banjul Magistrate Court.  

They had no lawyer and have told the court they can only speak little English.

Gambia to tighten punishment for breakers of tourism laws

The jurisdiction of the 24 hour Tribunal will also include the Banjul International Airport and the tourism development area, known as the TDA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Gambia has presented amendments to the country’s tourism laws endorsed by the parliament to impose severe fines for offenders.

“Tourism Offences (Amendment) Bill 2014” which seeks to amend the “Tourism Offences Act 2003” by increasing the monetary penalties for persons convicted of offences related to tourism, was approved by the parliament on April 8.

The amendments have to be assented to by President Yahya Jammeh for it to become law. If he does, the new law would impose harsher fines to a minimum D50, 000. Terms for imprisonment will remain not more than two years.

The Gambia Jails Former Government Officials

In August, The Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh had vowed never to forgive the three former top officials of his government (Photo credit: Seyllou/AFP/Nov2011)

5 years jail term for opposition national treasurer in Gambia

Judge said he is “satisfied that the prosecution has proven its case with certainty required by the law" (Photo: Daily Observer)

Young mother convicted over attempt to murder son

A young poverty-stricken girl clutches her child. Image from ca 1884. (Thanks to Wikipedia)

The Gambia’s Internet Law: RSF very disturbed, Amnesty International shocked

Both RSF and AI have criticized the passing of the new law by The Gambia, a tiny West African country where media laws have since been described as “draconian”. Information Minister, Nana Grey Johnson presided over the passing of the Information and Communication (adjusted) Act 2013.
(Photo Credit: MSJoof/TNBES/Globe/FPI)

‘Gambian citizens’ wage concerted efforts to pit security against Government’

Information Minister, Nana Grey Johnson, justified harsh law with claims that Gambians have waged concerted efforts "to pit people and security officials against their Government" (Photo Credit: MSJoof/TNBES/Globe/FPI)

The Gambia: 15 years jail time or $100K for publishing ‘false news’

The National Assembly in Banjul on Wednesday approved the “Information Communication (amendment) Act 2013” which allows 15 years jail time for spreading “false news” against the government or public officials online.

Section 173A of the Internet related offences also allows for a fine of D3 million (about USD$100,000) if a person uses the internet to “spread false news against the Government or public officials”.

Axed Minister can apply for bail at High Court

A bail request filed on his (Jobarteh's) first appearance at the Magistrates’ Court in the capital was turned down.

Trial against Gambian journalist rescheduled

Jobe's trial could not proceed on Tuesday

Denied Bail Once More

A criminal trial brought against the Deputy Editor-In-Chief of the Daily Observer, Alagie Jobe which was due to continue on April 22, 2013 has been moved to April 30.

The trial suffered setback after the Kanifing Magistrates Court was told the first prosecution witness Jawor Darboe is out of jurisdiction.

Alagie Jobe is facing seven criminal charges, the most serious of which, is sedition.

For ‘concealing treason’ Alieu Lowe gets 20 years imprisonment

Colonel Ndure Cham (photo source: Unknown)

The High Court in Banjul on April 16, 2013 convicted and sentenced Alieu Jobe to 20 years imprisonment for “concealment of treason and perjury”.

His co-accused Abdoulie Njie was acquitted and discharged on the same charges.

The duo were arrested, detained and later charged in relation to the 2006 foiled coup plot led by Colonel Ndure Cham, a runaway former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of The Gambia Armed Forces.

They had, during the trial, denied the charges brought against them by the State. They were charged with three counts, two counts of concealment of treason against both accused persons and one count of perjury against the Lowe, the 2^nd accused.

More charges against Daily Observer editor

Daily Observer Editor Alagie Jobe has been in State custody since his arrest in February 2013

In GPA Director’s Trial: Defence frown at prosecution’s ‘bad practice’

Banjul Port (Photo: Access Gambia)

Tambedou denies allegations of ‘neglect’ and ‘economic crime’

In December 2012  Mr. Tambedou told a lower court "I could have fled if I wanted to" but chooses not to - in the wake of a charge of "giving false information" to President Yahya Jammeh (Photo: The Point)

Gambia: Court orders for arrest of ex- officials of National Youth Council

Fabakary Kalleh (L) look forward to 'cleaning up mess' at National Youth Council amid reports on financial embezzlement (Photo credit: M.E.Njie/NaYCONF/Bansang)

Jammeh says cocaine destruction shows concrete action

How could such a grand scheme of illicit drug bank exist here without local backers, a local journalist asked. Picture: A fraction of over two tonnes of cocaine seized in Gambia in 2010. (Photo credit: Saikou Jammeh)

The Gambia: High Court Uphold Cocaine Sentencing

Cocaine bust, estimated to worth $1 billion, June 2010, Banjul