BANJUL, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The military court in The Gambia on Monday sentenced seven soldiers to nine years in jail after they were convicted on nine separate charges including treason and mutiny for plotting a coup to remove the government of President Adama Barrow.
"The court has considered the mitigation made by the defense counsel. It has also taken into consideration the time they have spent in detention since their arrest," said the president of the court Salifu Bojang before he handed down the verdict.
The convicts are Captain Yahya Jammeh, Lt. Abdoulie Jarju, Lt. Yahya Jammeh, Sgt. Babucarr Sanneh, Sgt. Malick Bojang, Lance Corporal Abba Badjie and Private Mbemba Camara while Private Alieu Sanneh was sentenced to three years.
They were initially arrested in 2017 for alleged WhatsApp-recorded meetings about overthrowing the government.
Meanwhile, the same court proceeded to free two army brigadier generals Umpa Mendy and Ansumana Tamba who were charged with desertion following their return from Equatorial Guinea where they accompanied the former President Yahya Jammeh to exile.
According to relatives of the convicted soldiers, the verdict will be appealed at Gambia Court of Appeal.
