Fourteensupporters of the main opposition United
Democratic Party (UDP) were Monday arraigned before Principal Magistrate Dayoh
M. Small-Dago of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court, charged with unlawful assembly
and prohibition of conduct conducive to a breach of the peace.
They are Lamin Marong, Lamin Sonko, Foday Gassama, Maimuna Darboe, Ousman Drammeh, Sherrif Kinteh, Jerreh Fatty, Fakebba Colley, Sirreh Sonko, Bakary Gibbba, Wandifa Kinteh, Kawsu Jaiteh, Yaya Njai, and Lamin Njai, and all denied the charges.
According to the charge sheet read in court, in count one the accused persons, on 14 February 2014 at Madiyana village in the Kombo South district of the West Coast Region, unlawfully assembled themselves and conducted a meeting without any permit or authority, and thereby committed an offence.
Count two stated that the accused persons on the same day and place conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace, and thereby committed an offence.
Police prosecutor Sub-Inspector Sarr asked for an adjournment to bring his witnesses to court, and added that the matter of bail was left to the court to decide.
Defence counsel B.S Touray, who held brief for lawyer Ousainou Darboe, said the charges before the court are bailable offences, and the accused are responsible people with responsible sureties.
He therefore urged the court to grant them bail.
In his ruling, Principal Magistrate Dayoh granted the accused bail in the sum of D250, 000 each with a Gambian surety, who should have landed property within the jurisdiction and will depose to an affidavit of means and deposit a biometric ID card to the court.
The case was then adjourned to 24 February 2014, for trial to commence.
