Saidy A. Sowe was on Friday 6th February 2009 arraigned at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate James George, charged with libel and giving false information. He denied the charges.

Count 1, the particulars of the alleged offence, revealed that in the month of October 2008, in the city of Banjul, with intent to expose Yankuba Touray to hatred, contempt, ridicule or damage to his profession or reputation, the accused Saidy Sowe made a false allegation in a written petition to the Office of the President that part of the proceeds derived from Destiny Night Club was for the said Yankuba Touray and thereby committed an offence.

While on count 2, the alleged offence, states that some time in the month of October 2008, in the city of Banjul, the accused Saidy Sowe presented a petition to the Office of the President, State House, claiming that EL MONDO Bar and Restaurant was illegally taken from him by Yankuba Touray the then Secretary of State for Tourism, which he knew to be false or does not believe to be true, and thereby committed an offence.

He was granted court bail in the sum of D10, 000 with a Gambian surety.

The case was adjourned to 17th February 2009.

In a separate, but related development, two suspects Kutubo Jarju and Samba Jarju, were also arraigned at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate James George charged with giving false information to a public officer. They denied the charge.

According to the particulars of the alleged offence, on 31st December 2008, the accused persons, Kutubo Jarju and Samba Jarju, gave false information to a public officer in a letter they presented to the Office of the President stating that the honourable Minister of Local Government and Lands, Ismail Sambou, Chief of Kombo South Ajieh Janneh, Chief Personal Assistant Mr Jerreh Demba, two Physical Planning officers, had given their family land at Kajabang village to one Mr Hassan, a Lebanese man, without due regard to their plight which in fact they knew such information was false or did not believe to be true. In fact the said land belonged to the Sanyang Kunda family.

They were granted court bail in the sum of D10, 000 each with a Gambian surety.

The case was adjourned to  17th February 2009