Six Gambian journalists sentenced to 2 years imprisonment by a Banjul High court for supposedly defaming President Yahya Jammeh were on September 3, 2009 granted Presidential “pardon” and released.

Emil Touray, Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, secretary general and first vice president respectively of the GPU. Pap Saine and Ebrima Sawaneh, managing editor and news editor of The Point newspaper respectively, and Sam Sarr, managing editor of Foroyaa newspaper were convicted on August 6 on all six counts of criminal “defamation” and “sedition”. 

The charges stemmed from a June 11, 2009  GPU press statement that criticised President Jammeh consistently for slandering the memory of the late Deyda Hydara, a veteran journalist who was brutally murdered by as-yet-unknown assailants in 2004.

The journalists and three others were rounded up and detained incommunicado before being brought to the Kanifing court and charged with an initial three criminal counts. 

President Jammeh in a press statement released during the 22 hour GMT  news bulletin  on the state-owned Gamba Radio and Television Services (GRTS) said the pardon of the journalists were in line with the spirit of the month of Ramadan which encourages Muslims to forgive each other.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sources reported that President Jammeh sent a strong delegation including some members of his cabinet to the Mile Two Prison to ensure the release of the journalists.

Prof. Kwame Karikari,
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel: 233-21-24 24 70
Fax: 233-21-22 10 84
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website: www.mediafound.org