Halifa Sallah Freed

The State yesterday announced the withdrawal of all the charges preferred against Mr. Halifa Sallah, Secretary General of the opposition party Peoples Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) and spokesperson of the NADD alliance.

Mr Sallah, who was arraigned at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 11th March and charged with three counts of spying, sedition, and procession without licence, was granted bail in the sum of D1, 000,000 (One million dalasis) with three sureties, two of them must be either a retired police officer who must have attained the rank of Inspector General and had retired at least for the past 8 years, or a retired military officer who must have attained the rank of Brigadier, and the third person should be the alkalo within the jurisdiction of Brikama Magistrates’ Court.

Director of Public Prosecution, Richard Chenge, told the Brikama Magistrates’ Court that the State was “withdrawing all the charges against Mr Sallah in the interest of peace”.

In his ruling, Magistrate Kayode said, “both charges against the accused are hereby withdrawn and the accused person is accordingly discharged”.

Mr Sallah is a former National Assembly Member for Serrekunda Central and was a presidential candidate in the 2006 elections.