Twelve persons were yesterday arraigned before Senior Magistrate Hilary U. Abeke of the Banjul Magistrates' Court, charged with giving false information to a public officer.
The accused persons all pleaded not guilty to the charge, and were subsequently remanded in custody at the Mile 2 State Central Prison until 5th July 2010.
The accused persons are: Landing Jadama, Mahmoud Faye, Pathe Jallow, Saikou Jallow, Abdou Karim Camara, Muhammed Saho, Haji Mahamadou Tunkara, Essa Kabba, Yaya Mass Cham, Momodou Korka Jallow, Ebrima Sonko, and Jahara Camara.
According to the particulars of offence, Landing Jadama and his co-accused sometime in the month of May 2010, in the city of Banjul allegedly presented a petition to the Office of the President through the Secretary-General.
It said they stated in the petition that the demolition exercise for the erected building and fences at Old Yundum Coastal Layout by the Department of Physical Planning was illegal and forcefully done, which information they knew was false.
In his application for bail on behalf of the accused persons, defence counsel L.K. Mboge told the court that the offence allegedly committed by the accused persons is a bailable offence.
He, therefore, applied to the court to grant his clients bail, stating that the alleged offence committed is not a felony, but a misdemeanour.
Lawyer Mboge further told the court that the accused persons are all responsible persons in their various homes, and if granted bail would be available anytime the court needs them.
In response, the prosecuting police officer, Inspector Keita, said granting bail is at the discretion of the court.
In his ruling, after listening to the bail application of the defence counsel and the response of the prosecuting officer, Magistrate Abeke said the court would not consider granting the accused persons bail, but their counsel has the right to apply for bail at the High Court.
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