Pap Saine case deferred

The false publication and broadcasting case filed in by the state against Pap Saine, managing editor and co-proproprietor of the Point Newspaper has been adjourned to March 11th, 2009.

The principal magistrate Sainabou Wada-Ceesay’s decision followed an application of adjournment made by police prosecutor Fadera, to enable him substitute the charge sheet and to also make reference to the submission made by the defence counsel Awa Sisay-Sabally and Modou Drammeh. The team of defence counsel led by Awa Sisay-Sabally submitted that the section under which the accused was charged does not exist, arguing that the section of the law has been amended and could only be found in 2005 amended version not the 2004 amended version.

New charges, Pap Saine was on Tuesday arraigned in court again for obtaining documents under false pretences. According to the charge preferred against the Point boss, he was accused for falsely obtaining a Gambian birth certificate and a national identity card. The prosecution alleges that he is not a Gambian  but he is actually from neighbouring Senegal.

He already faces two separate charges of giving false information for several articles in The Point relating to diplomats working for the Gambian embassy in the United States being recalled.