Eighteen
people were yesterday paraded before Justice O. Ottaba of the Banjul High Court
and charged with unlawful assembly, riot, incitement of violence, riotously
interfering with vehicles, holding a procession without a permit and disobeying
an order to disperse from an unlawful procession.
An allegation they denied.
They are Lamin Sonko, Bubacarr Gitteh, Baba Ceesay, Modou Touray, Ebrima Janko Ceesay, Alhagie Fatty, Alhagie Jammeh, Lansana Beyai, Lamin Marong, Lamin Jatta, Lamin Camara, Ebrima Jadama, Pa Ousman Njie, Kekuta Yabo, Bubacarr Jah, Muhammed Jawneh, Bubacarr Touray and Saderr Secka.
Senior counsel A. Bensouda then said the court should have considered the bail of the accused persons immediately, and urged the court to grant the accused persons bail.
The DPP objected to bail for the accused persons.
At that juncture, the case was adjourned until 25 April 2016, for ruling on the oral bail application.
According to the charge sheet in count one, all the accused persons on 14 April 2016, at Westfield in the Kanifing Municipality and within the jurisdiction of the honourable court, with intent to breach the peace and provoke other persons to breach same, unlawfully assembled in a manner that causes fear in the neighbourhood.
Count two stated that the same accused persons on the same day and place, assembled without a permit with intent to breach and cause terror to the public.
Count three read that the same accused persons on the same day and place, published banners with statements calculated to lead to the destruction or damage to properties.
Count four indicated that the same accused persons on the same day and place, without permit assembled in a manner that prevented the movement of vehicles around Westfield.
Count five revealed that all the accused persons on the same day and place, held a public procession without a permit from the Inspector General of Police.
Count six also stated that the same accused persons on the same day and place, disobeyed the order of Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abdoulie Sanneh and Superintendent Momodou Sowe, to disperse from unlawful assembly.