Magistrate
Omar Cham of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court yesterday granted twenty-eight
government officials each bail of D250,000 with two Gambian sureties, who
should deposit their title deeds with a value of D250,000.
The
accused persons should surrender their travel documents and should not leave
the court’s jurisdiction.
When
the case was called, police prosecutor Inspector S. Sanyang said he was
representing the IGP.
Lawyer
Lamin S. Camara said he was representing the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th,
14th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 21st, 23rd, 24th and 27th accused persons.
He
added that he was representing the 19th accused person together with Combeh
Gaye-Coker.
Lawyer
Surahata Janneh, together with lawyer Batchilly, represented the 6th, 7th and
the 20th accused persons.
Hawa
Sisay-Sabally said she was representing the 28th accused person and she,
together with Omar Njie, Yassin Senghore and Amie Jobe, represented the 25th
accused person.
Omar
Njie said he was representing the 12th accused person, and with Combeh
Gaye-Coker was representing the 11th accused person.
Patrick
Gomez represented the 3rd and 17th accused persons.
The
6th, 13th and 26 accused persons were absent.
In
his ruling, Magistrate Cham told the court that the case was for ruling based
on the bail applications.
He
said lawyer Camara submitted that both the Criminal Procedure Code and the constitution
have given the court the power to grant bail to the accused persons, since the
offences are bailable.
Magistrate
Cham adduced that, in response, the police prosecutor, assistant superintendent
P.L. Badjie, opposed the bail application, submitting that the accused persons
were holding senior government positions and, if they were granted bail, it
would affect the case, as the investigations were ongoing.
He
said the prosecutor further stated that the accused persons could jump bail if
they were granted bail.
It
is the discretion of the court to grant bail to the accused persons, the
magistrate added, citing some authorities to support his ruling.
Having
looked at the charge, the court has the discretion to grant bail to the accused
persons, he continued, adding that “they are entitled to bail”.
He
further stated that he should exercise his discretion to grant the accused
persons bail, which he did.
Earlier,
the accused persons were paraded before Magistrate Omar Cham and charged with
neglect of official duties and abuse of office. However, they denied the
charge.
