The accused are: Hakeem Touray, Omar Camara, Alieu Bah, Omar Sanyang, Abdoulie T. Bah, Alieu Sarr, Muhammad Sillah, Fallou Gallas Ceesay, Ebrima Kaira, Maimuna A. Bah, Mamadou Jallow, Kaddy Jadama, Kemeseng Sanneh, and Ebrima Janha.
They face two counts: unlawful assembly, contrary to Section 63 of the Criminal Offences Act 2025, and common nuisance, contrary to Section 137. All pleaded not guilty.
Leading the prosecution, Deputy Commissioner of Police Malang Jarju asked for an adjournment to prepare the first witness. “We are applying for an adjournment… to make progress in the matter by calling our first prosecution witness,” he told the court.
Jarju said the state would not oppose bail but asked the court to “take judicial notice” that six of the accused: Omar Camara, Alieu Sarr, Abdoulie T. Bah, Omar Sanyang, Alieu Bah, and Fallou Gallas Ceesay — are standing trial on similar charges before Principal Magistrate Sallah Njie and the late Magistrate Thomas Touray. He urged the court to warn them against “committing similar alleged offences.”
Defence counsel M. Tabally applied for bail, citing the constitutional presumption of innocence. “Granting bail will support the 1997 Constitution’s provision of the presumption of innocence,” she said, noting the charges are misdemeanours under the Criminal Procedure Act.
Responding to the judicial notice request, Tabally argued that “every case tried by a competent court should be tried differently and independently, without regard to the similarities of other trials.” She said the cases are “very independent and different in facts” and urged the court to disregard the prosecution’s submission.
Magistrate Sowe granted bail at D80,000 each with one Gambian surety. Each surety must surrender a National ID card and ensure the accused attend court.
The case resumes 11 June 2026 at 12:30 p.m. for the prosecution’s first witness.
The arrests drew criticism from civil society and the NHRC, which flagged concerns over detention conditions and due process. GALA maintains the gathering was peaceful and lawful.
