Richards breaks with Bar Association, appeals to President Jammeh

Africa » Gambia

Monday, October 10, 2011

Moses B Johnson Richards, a private legal practitioner who is currently serving a two years, six months imprisonment with hard labour after being found guilty of giving false information to a public servant, has totally disassociated himself from the strike currently being carried out by the Gambia Bar Association as a result of his conviction.

In a letter signed by Richards himself on October 8th, 2011, sent to the Daily Observer, the embattled lawyer said: “I disassociate myself from the strike and other actions of the Gambia Bar Association (GBA). The actions of the GBA from the beginning, has not helped my cause. I continue to apologise for my actions.” Meanwhile, Richards has also written to the Gambian leader, His Excellency, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, pleading for presidential pardon.

The letter reads:
It is with great humility, for which my family is known, that I write this letter to you, it is not my intention to bore you with copious details at this time, for I know you are a very busy person, but please graciously find time to look at this my plea for leniency. As you are aware, the Banjul Magistrate Court, presided over by Alagbe, found me guilty on two counts of giving false information and sedition and sentenced me to two and a half years imprisonment with hard labour, the implication of this is that I must stay in prison for that length  of time, I appeal to your personal sentiments, your office, your religious sensibilities and of course, the track record of your humane and generous disposition, to exercise your prerogative powers in my favour, by granting me pardon.

I had no intention to disparage you, with all these events, knowing how, I have always had the impression, that you love me so much, that I now wonder, how I got into this sorry situation, please your Excellency, your kind, generous and human heart, has been enjoyed by those who had done worse things than I have, that is not to say that I have any excuse for myself at this time, but find it in your kind nature to extend, this generosity to me, as I am on my knees pleading for mercy. Your Excellency sir, I want to assure you that I am still Moses Richards, the patriotic, citizen, judicial officer, eternally grateful for being appointed a judge, while still abroad on studies and whom you deemed fit to bestow a national honour twice.

Right now your Excellency, I am seriously afflicted, that I have offended you, and that grieves me greatly, because you are like a father and a mentor, I shall never conceive in my mind to offend, however, your Excellency, to err is human and to forgive is divine, let us turn a new life page today, and the spirit of the Ramadan that has just ended, say to you, “balal ma achal”. My aged mother, I may not be her only child but I happen to be her very valued friend, my children who are still in their formative stages, my clients and some other people to whom I am committed in one way or the other, will join me in being eternally grateful to you, for a positive response to this plea.

Your Excellency, as much as I shall cherish your receiving this plea, I vote that it is not a forum to be as detailed, as I would have loved to, if not for anything to show that, Moses Richards is still a patriotic and obedient servant of the Gambia, with unquestionable loyalty to His Excellency the president of the Republic. I look forward, your Excellency, to a well considered and compassionate response, thank you very much for this opportunity.

Accept the assurances of my unflinching loyalty.

Long live the President of The Gambia, long live the people of the Gambia, Long live the Republic of The Gambia.

Moses B. Johnson Richards

Author: Daily Observer

"True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.