The trial of two journalists on Monday proceeded with the testimony of a fisherman who described himself as the ‘Chairman of APRC Tanji Youth Wing.’
Lamin Conteh said the story published on the Voice Newspaper that some of his youths have defected to United Democratic Party ‘upset’ them. “Our investigation shows that the story is not true because some of the youth were not in Tanji on that day,” he said.
The prosecution fourth witness was testifying in the case of Musa S. Sheriff, the Editor-In-Chief of The Voice newspaper and Sainey MK Marenah, a freelance journalist standing trial at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on two counts of ‘conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor’ and ‘false publication”.
They are accused of conspiring among themselves to publish on The Voice newspaper medium caption ‘19 Green Youths joins opposition UDPî,’ a publication according to the police prosecutor is likely to cause fear to the public or disturb the public peace. They have pleaded not guilty to charges.
According the witness, the leaders of the youth wing called the numbers printed on the bottom of the newspaper for the journalist to meet them but they instead sent one Mafugi Ceesay. “If you are accusing a village, you should have facts,” he said adding that the said Mafugi further published what they discussed in Tanji. The police witness said he was later invited by the police regarding the publication on the newspaper and gave a statement. The statement was tendered in court without any objection from the defense counsel, Lamin Camara.
Under cross-examination, Mr Kanteh said the youth wing is ‘answerable to him.’
At this juncture, the trial was adjourned to July 23, for the prosecution to present their fifth witness.
Ends