Seedy Jaiteh, Human Resource Director at the national cellular company Gamcel was last Thursday arraigned before Magistrate SirandingSanneh of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court charged with stealing by clerk and servant, an allegation he denied.
According to the particulars of offence, the accused person, Seedy Jaiteh, between January 2009 and August 2010, while an employee of Gamcel as Director of Human Resource, stole fuel coupons equivalent to D11,099,000, being the propertyof Gamcel.
The prosecuting officer, Inspector Mballow, applied to the court to adjourn the case as he was yet to receive the case file, and the fact that investigations are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, defence counsel Lamin Camara also applied to the court to grant the accused person bail, as the offence is bailable. He further cited Section 99(1) of the CPC and asserted that it was the discretion of the court to grant bail.
He also argued that bail is a constitutional right, citing Section 19 of the constitution, further submitting that the accused has sureties to bail him, and would be available anytime he is needed by the court.
Counsel said that what was before the court was a substantive charge, and that there was no indication that there was a holding charge. He urged the court to use its discretion to grant bail.
Police prosecutor Inspector Mballow objected to bail for the accused person, citing Section 99 of the CPC. He further stated that the accused has a high position at his work place, and could interfere with witnesses. He urged the court not to grant bail to the accused.
Magistrate Sanneh, in her ruling, stated that the offence with which the accused was charged is bailable, and subsequently granted bail to the accused in the sum of D20 million with three Gambian sureties with leased properties within the Greater Banjul Area valued at D20 million.
She further ordered the accused person to submit his official and ordinary documents to the court registrar, and to report to the police on a weekly basis.
Defence counsel Camara said he would apply to the court to review the bail condition at the next adjournment date, which is the 19th of November 2010.
