Following the end of the treason trial which saw the incarceration of three and the acquittal of one of the accused persons, the substance that led to the conviction of Tamsir Jasseh, Alieu Jobe and Omar Fall Keita turned out to be the facts adduced by the prosecution.

Stating the judgement, Justice Anin-Yeboah stated that the testimonies of Captain Seckan showed that there was an attempted coup. She said Captain Seckan in his testimony told the court how he was informed by Captain Bunja Darboe and Col. Ndure Cham of the plan to overthrow the Gambia government while the president was out of the country.

She further stated that the preamble to the statement written by Captain Bunja Darboe, meant to be read after the coup, supported the prosecution’s case.

Justice Anin-Yeboah added that the mini tape recorder which contained the conversation between Col. Ndure Cham and Corporal Mbai Gaye all helped confirm the prosecution’s case that there was a coup plan to overthrow the government. She further stated that the testimonies of Cpl. Aljuma Bah of GNA, Ousman Njie and one Mr. Colley, both Gamtel staff, showed how captain Wassa Camara visited the Abuko Earth Station as part of the plan to stage a coup.

On the veracity of the accused persons’ involvement, she stated that Tamsir Jasseh had not only been informed about the coup by Col. Ndure Cham but he as well conspired in the coup. She stated that Tamsir Jasseh went further not only to advise Col. Ndure Cham not to cut the fibre optic cables, but visited the installation to be disconnected. She said Tamsir Jasseh even went to the Senegalese embassy and was also promised the position of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) upon the success of the coup.

She added that the testimonies of detective Lamin Cham corroborated the statement of Tamsir Jasseh whose testimony the court believed.

On the transporting of Col. Ndure Cham out of the country, Justice Anin-Yeboah stated the court believed the testimonies of Mustapha Lowe and Lawyer Mariam Denton. She said Mustapha Lowe told the court how Tamsir Jasseh transported Col. Ndure Cham to Darsilami with a white Land Rover. She recollected that Lawyer Mariam Denton also told the court that Tamsir Jasseh told her about the transportation of Col. Ndure Cham to Jiboro, adding that the testimonies of detective Lamin Cham also corroborated those of Mustapha Lowe and Mariam Denton.

On the conviction of Alieu Jobe, Justice Anin-Yeboah stated that going by the contents of Alieu Jobe’s statement; he had knowledge of the attempted coup a long time. She said the testimony of Ousman Sey showed that Alieu Jobe had conspired in the coup, as is evidenced by his statement on how he was assured by Col. Ndure Cham of his safety. She said according to Ousman Sey and Alieu Jobe, they got embroiled in the foiled coup by one Marabout called Barry. She said the testimony of Ousman Sey and Detective Lamin Cham corroborated the statement of Alieu Jobe on the assistance he gave in Ndure Cham’s escape. Justice Anin-Yeboah stated that the testimony of Mustapha Lowe had shown that Alieu Jobe had given some money to Col. Ndure Cham through Abdou Lowe.

On the 7th accused, Omar Faal Keita, Justice Anin-Yeboah said the tendering of papers containing the list of coup plotters’ charities and passport, which was recovered during the course of investigation, betrayed his collusion in the foiled coup. She said this was substantiated by the testimony of detective Lamin Cham. She said the prosecution had thus proven a prima facie case that Omar Faal Keita was in the country during the foiled coup.

On the acquittal of Demba Dem, Justice Anin-Yeboah said that the prosecution had failed to establish any evidence that linked him to the coup. She said none of the prosecution witnesses had stated in their testimonies that Demba Dem visited Sokone in connection with the coup. She said part of his statement that was tendered in court did not show anywhere his visit to Sokone in connection with the Coup.