Authorities delay trial, keep pressure on two journalists

Reporters Without Borders has said that the authorities have delayed the trial of The Voice editor Musa Sheriff and freelance journalist Sainey Marenah on charges of “conspiracy to commit a felony and publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public.”

They were due to have been tried yesterday but the hearing was postponed until 4 February.

“It seems clear that this stalling is designed to maintain the pressure on these two journalists, a tactic that reflects the Gambian government’s systematic harassment of the media,” Reporters Without Borders said. “We call on the authorities to just drop this arbitrary prosecution.”

Freed on bail of 20,000 dalasi (380 euros) on 16 January, Sheriff and Marenah presented themselves at the Banjul magistrates’ court for trial yesterday only to be told that the judge in charge of the case was not available because he was in a meeting.