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Gambia: Court martial jails Gambia’s coupists

 Ten military officers in The Gambia were on Thursday sentenced to prison terms ranging from life to ten years after they were found guilty of treason charges by a Court Martial in Yundum Barracks, 25 km from the capital Banjul.

The soldiers have been put on trial for attempting to overthrow the government of President Yahya Jammeh on 21 March 2006 when he was on a state visit to Mauritania.

The court sentenced the suspects depending on the degree of their involvement in the coup, which was said to have been foiled at an “advanced stage.”

Four soldiers were given life in prison sentence. They include the former spokesman of the army, Captain Bunja Darbo, who was assigned to write and broadcast a statement when the coup had succeeded.

Two of the coupists were sentenced to 25 years in prison while the remaining four were each given 10 years.

Major Sarjo Fofana, the President of the military court, said the prosecution has proven its case “beyond reasonable doubts” that the 10 soldiers have been found guilty of treason charges.

The coup leader, the Chief of Defence Staff Col. Ndure Cham, fled the country. However, three of his relatives – Mustapha Lowe, Alieu Jobe and Alieu Lowe – were arrested and detained. Alieu Lowe, 36, was the head of government treasury at the time of the coup.

Mustapha Lowe, a college student, was later released by the state after spending months in jail.

A Nigerian-born Judge, Chief Akomaye Agim, served as the Judge Advocate to the Court Martial.

Consequently, four civilian suspects are being tried at the Banjul High Court. The men face so many charges, including treason. However, some security officers who were arrested in the aftermath of the coup are still languishing in jail without being charged.

Five other suspects, including the former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mr Daba Marena, had gone missing for over a year now. On 3 April 2006, Gambian authorities said they escaped while they were being transported to a regional prison.

But since then nothing has been heard about the five security officers, raising fears of their families and friends that they might not be alive.

The Gambia government was blamed by right activists for using the coup to clamp down its “perceived enemies”, including lawyers and journalists, who became victims of late night arrests and horrendous tortures.

The regime also used the moment to pounce on the entire staff of the bi-weekly critical but popular newspaper, ‘The Independent’ on 28 March. Since then the paper remains sealed.