Remanded Immigration Officers, Others Granted Bail

The 14 Immigration officers, one security officer of the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and 2 other civilians who were last week remanded for an alleged offence of forgery were yesterday released on bail of D80, 000 by the Brikama Magistrates' Court.

OC Kaddy Jabang, Chief Inspector Aloya Jammeh, Inspector Matida Camara, Inspector Mbaka Janneh, Cadet Modou L. Manneh, Ebrima Sillah, Abdou Jatta, Mam Kumba Jamanka, Baboucarr Bajinka, Kinteh Jammeh, Lamin Sonko, Foday Ceesay, Modou L. Jarjue

Ebrima Jallow, Muhammed Allin, Cherno Bah and Sarjo Sonko were Friday 10th July 2009 remanded by the court, following the state counsel's, Marley Wood, application for the court not to grant them bail, as investigations were still ongoing.

At Friday sittings, Magistrate Fred posited that the 18 accused persons were only arraigned, but the charge sheet was not read to the accused persons, due to the fact that there was a need for an amendment on the charge sheet.

The eighteen (18) accused persons, according to the charge sheet, on or about the 3rd July 2009, at the Gambia International Airport allegedly forged an international passport in order to dishonestly enable one Ebrima Bah to travel to the United States of America.

In count two, they were allegedly charged with conspiracy to commit official corruption.

According to the charge sheet, the accused being public officers employed in the public services in the Gambia, charged with the duties of screening passengers travelling at the airport allegedly conspired among themselves and others still at large, to corruptly receive a bribery of D10, 500 (ten thousand, and five hundred dalasi) from one Cherno Bah in order to enable his brother Ebrima Bah use a forged passport to travel to U.S.A.

The second accused, Ebrima Bah, who is a 16-year-old was the only one granted bail in the sum of D50, 000.

The case was adjourned until the 31st July 2009.