James Gomez Convicted

One James Gomez was on Friday 27th February 2009 convicted and sentenced to a fine of D500 in default to serve two months imprisonment.

The Principal Magistrate Edrissa Mbai of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court handed down the verdict after the convict James Gomez was found guilty for the offence of giving false information to a public officer.

In delivery of his judgement, Principal Magistrate Edrissa Mbai stated that the convict was charged with the offence of giving false information to a public officer. He said the prosecution called three witnesses to prove their case. He added that after the prosecution closed their case the convict entered his defence and he did not call any witnesses. He stated that both the prosecution and the defence tendered some documents as exhibits.

Principal Magistrate Mbai further stated that the burden of proof rests with the prosecution and that burden must be discharged by the prosecution beyond any reasonable doubt. “After reviewing the entire evidence of both the prosecution and the defence the court was satisfied that the prosecution had proven it case,” he added.

The accused was subsequently convicted and sentenced accordingly.

It will be recalled that the convict James Gomez was said to have sometime in the month of November 2008 at Banjul and diverse places informed Mr Momodou Sanyang, Director General GRTS that the president phoned him and he (the President) was waiting for a letter to be delivered to him hand to hand without passing through the protocol or any one else. The information he knew or believed to be false and thereby committed an offence.