April 14 alleged protesters’ bail appeal adjourned for ruling

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.