Gambia's former senior security chiefs sentenced for treason

Gambia's former chief of defense staff, Lt General Lang Tombong Tamba, and former chief of naval staff, Rear Admiral Sarjo Fofana, were convicted on Wednesday for treason and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The former senior security chiefs were found guilty on four counts of treasonable indictments in connection with the March 21, 2006 abortive coup, alleged to have been masterminded by the former chief of defense staff, Colonel Ndure Cham.

Tamba is currently serving a death sentence along with seven other men in connection with a 2009 coup plot.

Special Criminal Court Judge Justice JE Ikpala told the crowded courtroom that the prosecution had proven its case beyond all reasonable doubt, and that the accused persons were guilty of the offences they were charged with.

"The accused persons were arraigned and indicted on four counts of conspiracy to commit treason, treason, concealment of treason and treason, and both pleaded not guilty to charges," the judge declared.

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