Five of the six Gambian journalists who were jailed for two years on August 6 on charges of defaming the government – Emil Touray, Pa Modou Faal, Pap Saine, Ebrima Sawaneh and Sam Sarr – were transferred from the capital’s Mile Two prison to Old Jeshwang prison in the north of the country on August 10, Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) has reported.
The sixth journalist, Sarrata Jabbi-Didda, who has a seven-month-old baby she is breastfeeding, remained in Mile Two but, on August 8, prison guards took advantage of what they said would be a routine medical examination to take the baby from her. They then promised she would be able to see the baby at least twice a day, but it is now with the Gambian child services at Bakoteh, 20 km outside the capital, and she has not seen the baby since August 8.
RSF has also expressed concern over Pap Saine’s state of health. Saine has a heart condition that needs surgery and already lost consciousness during a court hearing at the end of last month.
