Two Military Generals of The Gambia Armed Forces, Umpa Mendy and Ansumana Tamba appeared before the general court martial for the first time in military uniforms.
The two generals are facing charges of desertion the penalties of which could lead to life imprisonment. They allegedly left the country with the former president to exile without authority and overstayed there. The trial is taking place at the Yundum Barracks.
The presiding Judge Advocate, Justice Aminata Saho-Ceesay urged the State to provide legal representation to the accused generals. She emphasized that the two should be in military uniforms as they were not discharged from the Army.
Subsequently, the matter was adjourned till 2nd May, 2018.
It could be recalled that the two close aides of the former president were arrested after returning from Equatorial Guinea. They were since taken to a general court martial and slammed with two counts but questioned the jurisdiction of the military court as they are no longer active in the Army. They claimed their uniforms were taken by the Army.
Meanwhile, the judge has ordered the military high command to return their uniforms so they can wear them to court.
