By Yankuba Jallow
The Gambia Court of Appeal has rescinded from making an order to reinstate three soldiers into the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), despite acquitting and discharging them of the offences they were convicted of by a general court-martial.
Captain Yaya Jammeh, Lieutenant Abdoulie Jarju and Lieutenant Jammeh were freed by the Gambia Court of Appeal on Monday 21st December 2020. The trio was acquitted on charges of treason and related offences.
S.K. Jobe, Defense Lawyer for the acquitted persons, prayed specifically for the Court to make an order to reinstate his clients back into the army, but the Justices of the Court of Appeal rescinded from making such orders.
The Justices of the Appellate Court decided to leave this at the discretion of the Chief of Defense Staff to either reinstate or relieve them from their duties.
For the information of the readership, the military officers were disgracefully dismissed from the army by a panel that presided over their case at a Military Court in Yundum Camp, following their alleged involvement in a planned coup to overthrow President Adama Barrow.
When asked for comments, Defense Lawyer S.K. Jobe said the decision may be appealed at the level of the Supreme Court and thus, he will not make comments.