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Gambia News : Court convicts Gambian journalist Fatou Manneh
Principal Magistrate Buba Jawo of the Kanifing Magistrate's Court on Monday convicted and sentenced U.S-based Gambian journalist Fatou Jaw Manneh to a fine of D250,000 or in default serve four years in jail.
Ms. Manneh, who had been standing trial since last year, was convicted on four counts of sedition, publication of seditious words, publication of false information and uttering seditious words.
She was fined to pay D80,000; D70,000; D40,000 and D60,000 for the four counts respectively or in default to serve one year imprisonment with hard labour for each of the counts.
In his marathon judgment in a crowded courtroom, Magistrate Jawo said the prosec ution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt adding that he had no doubt in his mind that the article published by the accused on the internet could cause alarm.
He said prosecution witnesses proved to the court that the statements contained in the article were false and capable of causing alarm.
In his plea for mitigation Lamin Jobarteh, defence counsel, told the court that he found the accused to be exceptionally brilliant, hardworking and law abiding.
"The accused has two children who are being taken care of (by the accused) and she is a banker and a student, pursing a graduate course to develop her status," he said.
He added that the accused is a first time offender.
Another Gambian journalist, Mr. Lamin Fatty of the defunct Independent newspaper , was also convicted by Magistrate Jawo in 2007 on charges of false publication and fined D50,000 or in default serve one-year imprisonment.
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