The eight MFDC rebels from the Senegalese southern region of Casamance who were recently convicted and sentenced by the Banjul Magistrates’ court have filed an appeal against their conviction before Justice Naceesay Salla-Wadda of the Banjul High Court.

Sidat Jarju, Nuha Jammeh, Lamin Teww Sambou, Ansumana Jarju, Tamsir Badjie, Joseph Jatta,Abdou Salam Jammeh and Wuye Jarju were convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from one year to four years by the Banjul Magistrates’ court.

State counsel, Baba Bojang, told the court that the applicants were tried together at the magistrates’ court, convicted and sentenced. He said it is their constitutional right to appeal and apply to consolidate the appeal since it was on the same facts and subject matter.

The application was accepted by the court and the appeal was later consolidated .The court also ordered the acting principal registrar of the high court to provide the court with a Jola interpreter whenever the case comes up. The court also ordered the assistant registrar of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court to make available the records of proceedings to the court.

It will be recalled that the nine MFDC rebels were tried in The Gambia on charges of terrorism, spying, receiving stolen property and unlawful possession of Gambian National Identity Cards amongst other things.