By Rohey Jadama
The erstwhile commander of the naval staff, Rear Admiral Sarjo Fofana,
who was acquitted and discharged by the Supreme Court of the Gambia on four treason related charges on the 6th May, is now confirmed to be finally released from prison and with his family at home.“I am just from the Mile Two Central prison today to confirm his
release. He is released and has reunited with his family now,” said
the source.
Sarjo Fofana was jointly charged with Lt. General Tombong Lang
Tombong Tamba, the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Gambia
Armed Forces (GAF), for conspiracy to commit treason, treason and two
other treason related counts linked to the 2006 foiled coup plot. Both
Tamba and Fofana were found guilty on all four counts and subsequently
sentenced to 20 years for conspiracy, 20 years for treason and 10
years for each of the two counts of concealment of treason and which
were to run concurrently.
The two however appealed to the Court of Appeal which affirmed
their conviction.
They again appealed to the highest court and that is the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court, comprising a panel of five judges headed by Chief
Justice Ali Nawaz Chowhan, quashed Fofana’s conviction upon his
appeal, while acquitting his co-appellant, Lang Tombong Tamba, of two
of the four treason related counts but reaffirming the other two.
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