Sureties appear in court over accused’s absence

Ousman Jallow and Ansunding Bah, who are standing as sureties to one Momodou Bah alleged to have committed indecent assault, recently appeared at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court.

When the case was announced, prosecuting officer Chief Inspector Touray told the court that on the last adjourned date the court asked the first surety, Ansunding Bah, to deposit D5, 000, on the grounds that the accused was nowhere to be seen, which he did.

At that juncture, the court also asked the second surety, Ousman Jallow, who was absent on the last adjourned date, to also deposit D5, 000.

However, the surety told the court he was not with the money at that moment.

In his ruling, Magistrate Abeke told the court the accused, Momodou Bah, was brought before the court alleged to have committed a criminal offence.

The accused was granted bail on account of the two sureties, he said, adding that the prosecution had informed the court the accused was out of the court’s jurisdiction.

Magistrate Abeke said that based on the prosecution’s information about the accused, the surety, Ousman Jallow, would be remanded until he deposited the D5, 000 or at a time the accused was produced before the court.

It would be recalled that the accused, Momodou Bah, on 22 December 2011, at Brikama Nyambai, was alleged to have indecently assaulted an underage girl.