Emmanuel Fagbenle, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) yesterday urged the Banjul Magistrates' Court, presided by Magistrate B Y Camara, to convict and sentence 9 Senegalese nationals from the southern region of Cassamance, who are standing trial in The Gambia on terrorism related activities.

DPP Fangbele made this remark, while dialating on counts 4,6,7 and 8, of which the accused persons have already pleaded guilty to the charges, namely illegal entry into The Gambia without a legal permit, obatining The Gambia's National Identity Cards, by false pretence, declaration of   Gambian passport, and obtaining Gambian birth certificate, by false pretence. All the charges are contrary to the Criminal Code, Laws of The Gambia.

According to him, all the accused persons in their cautionary statements admitted   that they have committed the offences, which are in violations of the sections, under which they are charged. He therefore urged the court to accordingly convict the accused persons and nulify all the documents obtained by illegal means.

For their part, the accused persons told the court that they are ignorant of   the Laws of The Gambia, and consequently   begged for mercy.

But Magistrate Camara at this point informed them that   ignorance of the law is not an excuse and therefore will be    convicted on each of the counts, they have pleaded guilty . "I will reverse the sentence pending the outcome of the remaining counts, " he stated.

The case is then   adjourned to   29th and 30th October, 2007, for the prosecution to open their case on the remaining charges