The
Gambia Court of Appeal yesterday adjourned the bail appeal of the 14th April
alleged protesters for ruling.
The
appellants are Bubacarr Gitteh, Baba Ceesay, Ebrima Janko Ceesay, Lamin Camara,
Alagie Jammeh, Lamin Jatta, Ebrima Jadama, Pa Ousman Njie, Kekuta Yarbo,
Bubacarr Jah, Muhammed Jawneh, Babucarr Touray, Sagan Secka, Lamin Sonko, Modou
Touray, Lasana Beyai, Lamin Marong, Alagie Fatty, Nogoi Njie, Fatoumatta
Jawara, Fatou Camara, Kafu Bayo, Ebrima Jabang, Modou Ngum and Kalilou
Saidykhan.
They
are appealing against the bail ruling of Justice O. Ottaba of the Special
Criminal Division of the Banjul High Court.
The
case was presided over by a panel of three judges, Justice O.A. Adogoke,
Justice Edrissa Fafa M’bai, and Justice Awa Bah.
When the case was called, Lawyer Yassin
Senghore announced her representation for all the appellants, and told the
court that the appellants were absent and are in the custody of the state.
Defence
counsel Senghore then applied to adopt the appellants’ briefs of argument filed
on 21 June 2016.
She further urged the court to admit the
appellants to bail.
However,
the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Barkun said he thought the defence
counsel would bring it to the notice of the court that 14 out of the 25
appellants were released.
He
further told the court that he did not see the necessity for their appeal, when
they were released and discharged from the case.
At
this stage, he went through the names of the 14 people who were released.
In
response, Lawyer Senghore told the court that they were aware that some of the
appellants were released, but how they were released and the condition of their
release was unknown to defence counsel.
The
DPP then told the court that the 14 people were released on 15 June 2016.
However,
Justice Awa Bah interjected and asked the DPP how come they were released on 15
June, because on 16 June they were in court, which ordered for the filing of
briefs.
The
DPP responded that they had a problem with communication.
He
further told the court that the 14 people were released by Justice Abi of the
Mansakonko High Court.
However,
when the DPP was asked by Justice Bah whether he had the copy of the order
releasing the 14 appellants, he responded in the negative.
While
adjourning the case until 26 July 2016, for ruling, Justice Adogoke said the
briefs of both parties were adopted, and further said it was in the interest of
justice for the copy of the order to be furnished with the court before the
next adjournment date.
