In fear of further prosecution, the 2nd plaintiff fled via Senegal to the United States,
where she remains in exile till date.
The 3rd Plaintiff avers, that she was detained on the 28th March 2007, on the grounds
of series of articles and public statements published by her against the Gambian
President and government between September 2003 and October 2005, and was
subsequently charged of sedition and publication of false news under the law. On
18th August 2008, she was convicted on all counts and subject to bail of GMD
250,000 fine, payable within 2 hours, or in default of payment, four years
imprisonment.
The 3rd Plaintiff further avers that she made the payments within the stipulated time
with the aid of concerned citizens and relatives and subsequently fled The Gambia
and is now resident in United States, where she remains in exile.
The 4th Plaintiff avers, that on the 7th of February 2013, he was arrested and
unlawfully detained on the grounds of researching and preparing an article relating
to the actions taken by Major Lamin Touray against the execution of nine
condemned prisoners. He was detained in an isolated room and physically tortured
with brutality by the NIA to the point of being hospitalized. After his discharge from
the hospital, he was charged with producing and possessing publication with
seditious intentions contrary to the criminal code. Being refused bail pending trial,
he was transferred to an overcrowded cell and was held in state custody for 17
months until the end of his trial at which he was acquitted.
10