The high court in Banjul presided over by the vacation judge, Justice V.B. Mahoney, yesterday granted William John Joof bail in the sum of D3million with two Gambian sureties who must deposit title deeds of landed properties of that value.
This development follows an earlier bail application filed by his defence counsel, Lamin Camara, at the high court in Banjul, following the lower court?s denial of bail to Mr. Joof.
Willy Joof, ex-Gambian ambassador to France and at one time permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is standing trial at the Banjul Magistrates' Court on a nine-count charge of official corruption, obtaining goods by false pretence, stealing, conspiracy to commit a felony, goods used and four counts of abuse of office. He has since denied all the charges.
The bail condition further stipulated that the accused person, Willy Joof, must surrender all his travel documents with the assistant registrar at the high court.
Meanwhile, two prosecution witnesses have so far testified in the case, which was adjourned to 22nd September for continuation.
Readers would recall that the trial magistrate at the lower court, Hilary U. Abeke, had refused bail to Willy Joof, after the Director of Public Prosecutions, Richard N Chenge, opposed the granting of bail to the accused person on the grounds that he would tamper with the prosecution witnesses.
Counsel representing Willy Joof, in applying for bail, reminded the court that the charges are bailable offences.
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