Email Gambia News to a friend
Print version
Comment on This Gambia News

Gambia News: Fatou Jaw Manneh's Case

Fabakary B. Ceesay

The sedition trial involving journalist Fatou Jaw Manneh and the state has been at a standstill since the case was rejected by Magistrate Imelda Mboto of Banjul Magistrates Court on Monday 6 August, for lack of her court's jurisdiction to hear the case.

She then maintained that the case should be filed at Brikama which has jurisdiction over the matter since the accused was arrested in that jurisdiction.

Journalist Fatou Jaw Manneh was first tried at the Kanifing Magistrates Court by Magistrate Buba Jawo from 4 April to the 3 July 2007. On 3 July the trial magistrate ruled that his court has no jurisdiction to hear the case and therefore transferred the matter to Banjul which he maintained had jurisdiction. On Monday 6 August, Magistrate Imelda Mboto of Banjul Magistrates Court also declined to hear the case noting that her court had no jurisdiction to hear the case. She said the prosecution should file their case at the Brikama Magistrates' Court. Since then the trial never proceeded either at Brikama or Banjul. Fatou Jaw Manneh, a Gambian journalist based in the US, was arrested upon arrival at the Banjul International Airport on the 28 March and detained at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) for five days before appearing in court on 3 April before Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh. She refused to take her plea without a counsel. The following day 4 April, she re-appeared before Magistrate Buba Jawo.