After nearly 10 months of trial on conspiracy to commit misdemeanor and publication of false news with intent to cause fear or alarm to the public, Journalist Sainey MK Marenah and Editor Musa Sheriff are finally freed by Magistrate JN Hakim of Banjul Magistrate’s Court.
The acquittal and discharge, which is a huge slap on the face of the prosecution, followed a ruling on no case to answer submission filed by Defense counsel LS Camara.
After hearing from both sides and combing through the evidence before the court, Magistrate Hakim without mincing his words handed down justice in favour of Sheriff and Marenah. The learned Magistrate thought that was the only choice he had since the prosecution failed to establish a case against the journalists whose case stemmed out of a story the Voice Newspaper that 19 ruling party Green Youths defected to opposition United Democratic Party. They were arbitrarily arrested and detained before being brought before the court.
“I must thank my friends, relatives and colleagues in the Media for standing by my side during these crucial moments,” Sainey Marenah told Kairo News shortly after walking out of the court a free man.
Kairo News hails Magistrate Hakim for taking the bull by the horns and deliver justice effectively. As the last bastion of hope in any serious and civilised democracy, the courts will only earn the respect when judges and magistrates stick to justice.
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