Verdict expected today on GPU Six

Justice Emmanuel Fagbenle of the High Court in Banjul will this morning deliver his judgement on the State vs GPU Six.

By PK Jarju

The six journalists Ebrima Sawaneh, Pap Saine, Sarata Jabbie-Dibba, Pap Modou Faal, Bai Emil Touray and Sam Sarr are standing trial on various criminal charges ranging from conspiracy to publish seditious publication, publishing seditious publication, conspiracy to commit criminal defamation and criminal defamation.

If found guilty, the journalist will be liable to hefty fines or sentence to a minimum of six to one year in prison with hard labour or both.

The director of public prosecution, Richard N. Chenge in his address to the court last week, urged the court to convict the six journalist on the ground that the Gambia Press Union's rejoinder to President Jammeh which the accused persons published in their newspapers was seditious material.

He added that sedition in law is anything that punishes publication that is made with intent to bring the government into hatred, ridicule and contempt. He adduced that for some body to publish in the papers to be read in the whole world is a motive of insinuating the President of killing the late Deyda Hydara, whom he said, has large followers in the Gambia and abroad.

He noted that if some body can do that, there is no doubt that he is inciting trouble in the Gambia so that followers of Deyda Hydara can get up and make trouble.

The prosecution stressed that the freedom of speech guaranteed under the 1997 constitution of the Gambian is not absolute, but restricted in the interest of public safety and national interest.

In response, Lamin Camara who is representing Ebrima Sawaneh, Pap Saine, Sarata Jabbie-Dibba, Pap Modou Faaland Bai Emil Touray urged the court to acquit and disharge his clients on the grounds the prosecution have failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Foroyaa Editor, Sam Sarr, who represented himself also urged the court to acquit and discharge him.