(JollofNews) – An opposition leader in the Gambia who was arrested last Saturday for taking part in an ‘unauthorised’ protest against the regime of President Yahya Jammeh, was this afternoon charged in court and remanded in prison.
Ousainou Darboe of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) and 18 party supporters, are slapped with multiple counts of offences including unlawful assembly, riot, incitement of violence, riotously interfering with traffic, holding a procession without a license and disobeying an order to disperse from an unlawful procession.
They have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
State prosecutors have informed the court that investigations against the UDP leadership
and supporters are ongoing.
They urged the court to remand all the accused persons in prison until they have finished with their investigations.
The prosecution expressed fears that the accused persons would interfere with their investigations or with prosecution witnesses if they are released on bail.
This was rejected by Antouman Gaye, defence lawyer for the accused.
Mr Gaye said the offences his clients have been charged with are bailable ones under Gambian law and it would be and infringement of their rights if they are denied bail.
He reminded the court that his clients have been held in detention well beyond the constitutionally stipulated 72-hours.
While not overruling the defence lawyer, the presiding judge advised him to make a formal bail application instead of an oral one.
The case continues on Thursday.
All those charges they place on those protesters should show to each an everyone in the country or outside that Gambia is a country without Justice because all chief Justices are foreigners who have no mercy because they are in for the bribe they receive from Jammeh to judge on his favour and not the truth. Did the authority filed for the death of solo Sandeng to bring the killers to justice? is he not a Gambian? if The Gambian authority is in for Justice let them begin finding the killers of Solo sandeng and bring them to Justice. Jammeh always protest against western powers and next minute he say no one should protest for his/her right in the Gambia as a Gambian citizen, why? means the government is cruel and not ruling for the interest of the people. when Jammeh is not satisfy with EU,USA,AU etc he do complained about it so why will it be a crime for his people to complained/protest against his bad ruling? MOTHERLAND OR DEATH, JUSTICE MUST PREVAIL.
How can you have the heart to kill your fellow citizens just to keep one man on power, remember the world is 3days ( yesterday, today and Tomorrow) no condition is permanent.
Everyone in the Gambia is crying for peace and none is crying for Justice and without Justice peace and stability we yarn for shall never be archive.