Thursday is D-Day for 6 Gambian journalists

The judgment on the Case of six journalists expected today has been deferred to tomorrow- Thursday 6 August 2009 to be delivered at the High Court in Banjul.

On Monday 3 August, the presiding judge, Justice- Emmanuel Fagbenle adjourned the case for judgment on Wednesday (today), after hearing robust arguments and lengthy addresses by defense Counsel- Mr. Lamin S. Camara and Mr. Sam Sarr, Managing Editor of Foroyaa newspaper- who represented himself in Court.

As of 12pm today, the High Court was full to capacity; occupied by spectators, including journalists, family members, love ones, well wishers and Jammeh's secret agents who could be spotted everywhere struggling to get information from spectators for their master.

Armed Paramilitary officers, some in riot gears brandishing AK47 riffles took position from the main gate of the Court premises and allover, including the courtroom doors, restricting people who could not secure seats from entering the courtroom. Many people who chose to stand were driven out of the courts.

No specific reason has been given for the deferred judgment date. However, there is great fear and tangible reason to believe, that the accused journalists will either be fined heavily or imprisoned, given President Yahya Jammeh’s blatant political gimmicks who even during the Court proceedings, threatened the accused journalists with severe consequences.