Gambia: Mother Remanded In Prison For ‘Insulting’ President Barrow

A local magistrate in the Gambia has remanded a
mother of several children at the
notorious Mile Two Prisons who is
accused of insulting the country’s
new president, Adama Barrow. Fatou Badjie of Jabang village is
charged with prohibition of
conduct conducive to breach of
peace. Although the exact words
she uttered are yet to be disclosed,
state prosecutors said she had intented to provoke a breach of
peace. Ms Badjie, who is also a single
parent, was arrested and detained
on February 19th by police after
she and another woman, Awa
Jadama, currently at large,
allegedly made rude comments about the president. Police Prosecutor Sergeant 2202
Fadera, applied for her to be
remanded as the matter is still
under investigation. He said Ms
Badjie may tamper with their
investigation or even abscond the jurisdiction of the country if she is
released on bail. “The second accused is still at large
and Fatou may equally take the
same decision if she is granted
bail,” he said. Ms Badjie, who represented herself
in court, denied the allegation and
pleaded with the court to grant her
bail. She said she is a single parent
of several children who are being
affected by her absence from home. Despite her plea, she was
remanded by Magistrate AR Bah of
the Brikama Court. The case continues.