Absence of Prosecution Witnesses Delays Proceedings in Journalist’s Case

FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)

Lamin Sanyang

22 June 2011

The false information trial of Dodou Sanneh, a former reporter of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) could not proceed on Monday 20th June, before Magistrate, Manyima Bojang, of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) was represented by Superintendent Sainey Joof while the defendant, Dodou Sanneh, announced his appearance in court and represents himself.

The proceedings however could not continue due to the absence of the prosecution witnesses in court. “Last night I called the witnesses and was told that they were on trek. I have two more witnesses to call and I want the court to adjourn the case till they are here,” applied superintendent Joof.

The application made by the prosecution was granted and the case was adjourned till Thursday 23rd June 2011.

It could be recalled that Dodou Sanneh, a former reporter of GRTS was sacked on 8 September 2006, while covering the presidential campaign for the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) during the so-called official campaign period. He was reinstated within a week and given 20 days working leave, only to be sacked again on 20 November 2006. After almost five years on 7 March 2011, he wrote a petition to the office of the president concerning his un-lawful termination. Based on the said petition, he was arrested and detained from 26 to 29 March 2011 and arraigned before the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on one count charge of “Giving false information to a public officer”. He did not take his plea, due to the fact that his case was not among the cases listed for hearing on that day. The Court asked him to provide two Gambia sureties who must sign a bail bond of D 100,000 each.

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