31 March 2009

Alert

Charges against newspaper publisher Halifa Sallah dropped


Incident details

Halifa Sallah

publisher(s)

other
(MFWA/IFEX) - On 26 March 2009, Lamin Camara, lawyer of Halifa Sallah, publisher of the pro-opposition Banjul-based "Foroyaa Newspaper", withdrew an application he filed at the Banjul High Court challenging the outrageous bail conditions imposed on his client by the Brikama magistrate court.

Media Foundation for West Africa's (MFWA) sources reported that the withdrawal of the application followed the state prosecutor's decision to drop all charges against Sallah "in the interest of peace and justice."

The Brikama Magistrate Court presided over by Kayode Olajubutu granted Sallah bail on 11 March under very absurd conditions. The conditions included three sureties who were impossible to find. According to the court, two of the sureties must be a former inspector general of police and an army officer not below the rank of brigadier. The two high-ranking security officers must have been on retirement for a period of no less than eight years. The third must be a traditional chief within the jurisdiction of Brikama.

Updates the Sallah case: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/101748



Source:

Media Foundation for West Africa
PO Box LG 730
30 Duade Street, Kokomlemle
Legon, Accra
Ghana
alerts (@) mediafound.org
Phone: +233 302 242470
Fax: +233 302 221084
@mfwaalerts
 

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More on this case

"Foroyaa Newspaper" publisher released but faces new charges 20 March 2009 Publisher Halifa Sallah faces criminal charges, including "sedition"; Magistrate Court grants bail but poses absurd conditions 13 March 2009 Publisher of pro-opposition "Foroyaa Newspaper" Halifa Sallah arrested and detained without charge 9 March 2009

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