Reports reaching this paper have confirmed that Saikou Ceesay, a journalist with the Daily News newspaper and a member of the Gambia Press Union executive committee, was yesterday arrested and is currently detained at Police headquarters in Banjul.
Though the police could not be reached for comments, sources said Ceesay’s arrest is in connection with his serving as surety for Nanama Keita, former sports editor of the Daily Observer newspaper, who was facing trial on charges of giving false information, and has reportedly jumped bail, and is now in the United States of America.
During the last hearings of the case, Keita and his lawyer, Neneh Cham, were not in court and the presiding magistrate issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Ceesay.
Ceesay was said to have reported to the police on Monday, after receiving information that the authorities were trying to reach him.
Sources said Ceesay reported to the Brusubi police station Monday morning, where he was briefly detained before being rushed to Jeshwang Prison, where he spent some time.
Sources also told this paper that Ceesay was later moved from Jeshwang Prison to the police headquarters in Banjul, where he was being held at the time of going to press.
Meanwhile, former Observer sports editor Keita was in July this year arraigned at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court charged with giving false information to a public servant.
He was granted a bail of D100, 000, while the Gambia Press Union (GPU) facilitated the acquisition of a lawyer for his defence.
Members of the union led by GPU President Bai Emil Touray yesterday visited the police headquarters to secure bail for Ceesay, but were advised to bail him when he appears in court today, a source told this paper.
