Halifa Sallah’s Amended Charge Sheet-for The Record

 

By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-In-Chief

The Gambia Echo has obtained Halifa Sallah’s amended criminal charge sheet from the Department of State for Justice in The Gambia and, for the benefit of our readers and human rights organizations, we herein reproduce the laughable legal instruments verbatim. That in this day and age, a government that came to power promising miracles will resort to such infantile legal gimmicks to silence its vociferous critics is really the height of folly. I also challenge Gambian legal minds to weight in the phrase “challenge government policy of screening witches” highlighted in the bogus and arguably, most preposterous charge sheet ever scripted in The Gambia. Even though Halifa Sallah has since been released, it is important that Gambians know the utterly criminal character of the Jammeh government and the corruptible prosecutors he works with. Doubtlessly to say, the Gambian judiciary is the worse on earth given its cadre of lawyers and judges with dubious credentials most of whom could have never worn legal robes elsewhere.    

Fresh Charges Against Halifa Sallah

(Original version)

IN THE BRIKAMA MAGISTRATE COURT HOLDEN AT BRIKAMA

CRIME CASE NO. BRK/CC/88/09

 BETWEEN:

 THE STATE ..................... COMPLAINANT

VS

HALIPHA SALLAH ................. ACCUSED

The Hon. Court is informed by the Hon. Attorney General on behalf of the State that the above named person is charged as follows:­

 COUNT ONE

 STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

 Conduct conducive to breach of the peace contrary to section 9 of the P public Order Act Cap 22 Laws of the Gambia 1990.

PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

Halifa Sallah on or about the 7^th March 2009 at Makumbaya village in the Western Region of the Republic of the Gambia with intent to provoke breach of the peace organized public meetings to challenge the government policy of screening witches and made remarks which he knew by such inciting remarks a breach of peace was likely to be occasioned and thereby committed an offence.

 COUNT TWO

STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

 Seditious Act contrary to section 52 (1) (a) of the Criminal Code Cap 10 Laws of The Gambia 1990.

PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

 Halifa Sallah on or about the 7^th March 2009 at Makumbaya village in the Western Region of the Republic of the Gambia with intent to cause or bring hatred, contempt or to excite disaffection against the person of the President or the Government of the Gambia organized public meetings in which he made some inciting remarks challenging the government policy on screening of witches and thereby committed an offence.

COUNT THREE

STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

 Unlawful Assembly contrary to section 69 of the Criminal Code Act Cap 10 Laws of The Gambia 1990 punishable under section 70 of the same Act.

 PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

 Halifa Sallah on or about the 7^th March 2009 at Makumbaya village in the Western Region of the Republic of The Gambia with intent to cause breach of public peace assembled a meeting of the local residents challenging the government policy on screening of witches thereby committed an offence.

 COUNT FOUR

STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

Inciting disobedience of lawful orders contrary to section 23 (d) of the Criminal Code Laws of the Gambia and section 116 of the same code.

 PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

Halifa Sallah on or about the 7^th March 2009 at Makumbaya village in the Western Region o f t he Republic o f The Gambia with intent t o incite people to disobey a lawful order of the president and challenging the government policy on screening of witches organized meetings and thereby committed an offence.

 COUNT FIVE

STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

Obtaining information which may be useful to an enemy contrary to section 37 (1) (a) of the Criminal Code Act Cap 10 Vow. III Laws of The Gambia 1990.

 PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

Halifax Salaam on or about the 7^th March 2009 at Makumbaya village in the Western Region of the Republic of The Gambia for purposes prejudicial to the safety and interest of the Gambia recorded and collected information from various individuals which information may be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy and thereby committed an offence.