Back and Next - Back and NextMFDC 9 case set for judgement
Friday, March 28, 2008
Senior magistrate Kayode Olajubutu of Banjul magistrates court,Yesterday adjourned the criminal case involving the 9 men memembers of MFDC rebels from Casamance in the Southern region of Senegal to April 16th 2008 for judgement.
The presiding magistrate”s decision followed 6 months of extensive legal litigation,which was characterised by receiving evidencies from both prosecution witnesses and the 9 accuced persons respectivelly .
The 9 MFDC rebels are facing six counts of criminal offences ranging from conspiracy to comit felony contrary to section 37 (1) (b) of the criminal code, receiving stolen properties contrary to section 297 (1) the criminal code, unlawful possession of Gambian National idenrity card contrary to paragraph 6 of the first schedule of the Gambia Nationality and Citizenship Act, as well as illegal entry into The Gambia and traficking of fire arms all contrary to the criminal code Cap 10 Volume 111 laws of the Gambia.
The 9 MFDC rebels pleaded not guilty to all the charges prefered against them except count 4 with regards to unlawful possession of the Gambia National identity card.
Yesterday”s sitting showcased the 9 MFDC rebels opened their defence after the closure of the prosecution’s case. The rebels individually gave their evidence in-chief and did not hesitate to deny the charges.
They however accepted their positions as members of the MFDC rebel groups based either together in the same rebel camp or in different camps but all fighting for the independence of Casamance .They made clear in court that they had no problem with the Gambia,adding that their problem is with the Senegalese Government for the liberation of Casamance. “The problem in Casamance can only be solve by people of Casamance, nothing more or less than that”, they said.
The presiding magistrate”s decision followed 6 months of extensive legal litigation,which was characterised by receiving evidencies from both prosecution witnesses and the 9 accuced persons respectivelly .
The 9 MFDC rebels are facing six counts of criminal offences ranging from conspiracy to comit felony contrary to section 37 (1) (b) of the criminal code, receiving stolen properties contrary to section 297 (1) the criminal code, unlawful possession of Gambian National idenrity card contrary to paragraph 6 of the first schedule of the Gambia Nationality and Citizenship Act, as well as illegal entry into The Gambia and traficking of fire arms all contrary to the criminal code Cap 10 Volume 111 laws of the Gambia.
The 9 MFDC rebels pleaded not guilty to all the charges prefered against them except count 4 with regards to unlawful possession of the Gambia National identity card.
Yesterday”s sitting showcased the 9 MFDC rebels opened their defence after the closure of the prosecution’s case. The rebels individually gave their evidence in-chief and did not hesitate to deny the charges.
They however accepted their positions as members of the MFDC rebel groups based either together in the same rebel camp or in different camps but all fighting for the independence of Casamance .They made clear in court that they had no problem with the Gambia,adding that their problem is with the Senegalese Government for the liberation of Casamance. “The problem in Casamance can only be solve by people of Casamance, nothing more or less than that”, they said.
Author: By Sanna Jawara & Musa Ndow
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