The state yesterday added four fresh charges to the charges against the suspected Casamance felons, bringing to eight the total number of charges against the accused persons who have been charged on four counts, namely Conspiracy to commit felony; Spying; Receiving military equipment illegally and unlawful possession Gambian National Identity Card. Yesterday’s proceedings saw the prosecution of one more suspected accomplice, Wuyeh Jarjue, making nine the number suspects standing accused.

The nine suspects are standing trial on various charges as outlined below:

Counts one, two, and three are conspiracy to carry out acts of terrorism; spying, and illegally receiving military equipment respectively. However the 9th accused person, Wuyeh Jarjue, has not been included in these offences, though the eight others have pleaded not guilty to the said charges.

Count four is about entering The Gambia without a permit or pass, to which all except the first and sixth accused persons, Sedat Jarjue and Tamsir Badjie respectively, pleaded not guilty.

All the accused pleaded not guilty to the fifth count of illegal transfer of firearms, but pleaded guilty to the sixth count of obtaining I D Cards by false pretense whereas count seven of false declaration to obtain a passport only affected the eight accused, Abdousalam Jammeh, who pleaded guilty to the charge.

The last count of obtaining birth certificate by false pretense only affected the eight and nine accused persons, Abdousalam Jammeh and Wuyeh Jarjue, who both pleaded guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, B.Y. Camara, advised the accused persons to seek the services of a lawyer(s) to represent them on the charges they pleaded not guilty.

However, the accused persons said they are yet to have any legal representation owing to the fact that they have no relation in The Gambia to make arrangements for them to secure such service.

The case continues today Wednesday 24th October.