Twenty-two students and teachers of the President’s Award Scheme were on Monday arraigned before Magistrate Ngube of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on three counts of conspiracy, prohibition of conduct conducive to breach of the peace and unlawful assembly.
According to the particulars of offence on count one, the accused persons on 10 May 2012, at the Presidents International Award at Bakau in the
Count two stated that the accused persons on the same date and place conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace, and thereby committed an offence.
Count three indicated that the accused persons on the same date and place with intent to commit a felony, assembled at the same place to demonstrate without a permit from the office of the Inspector General of Police, and thereby committed an offence.
They all denied the charges.
The police prosecutor, chief Inspector Jammeh, said he was opposing bail because the matter was still under investigation, and has not received the case file to date.
He added that if the accused persons were granted bail, they might interfere with the investigation.
Magistrate Ngube responded that it was evident from the charges preferred against the accused are bailable,
Moreover, it was not a legitimate excuse that an accused person be kept in custody simply because the police were still conducting their investigation.
He subsequently granted them bail of D5, 000 each with one surety of Gambian nationality resident within the jurisdiction.
The surety shall deposit his ID cards and swear to an affidavit of means.
The case was adjourned till 24 May 2012.