A high court Judge sitting at the Banjul High Court has found Private Sanna Fadera of the Gambia Armed Forces guilty of treason after prosecutors accused him of plotting to overthrow the democratically elected government of President Adama Barrow in December 2022.
Justice Basiru V.P Mahoney, delivering the judgment, said the prosecution had proved their case against the first accused, Sanna Fadera, but failed woefully in providing enough evidence against Gibril Darboe, Ebrima Sannoh, Fa Bakary Jawara, and Judge acquitted and discharged them.
Meanwhile, the State prosecutor told the Judge that they would appeal against the verdict and urged Justice Mahoney to remand the accused persons pending the determination of the appellant court.
Defense lawyer Lamin S Camara vehemently opposed the state application and told the Judge to free his clients as there is no evidence linking them to the alleged crime.
Furthermore, Counsel Camara also appealed to the Judge in the case of Sanna Fadera, urging the court to temper justice with mercy after Sanna was found guilty.
Justice Mahoney, after hearing arguments and counterarguments from both the state prosecutor and defense counsel, convicted and sentenced Fadera to 12 years in jail.
He also granted bail to Gibril Darboe, Ebrima Sannoh, Fa Bakary Jawara
in the amount of D100,000 each, with one Gambian surety pending the state’s appeal.
