Prosecutors alleged that the accused, Buba Ceesay, on or about the 26th May, 2024, at Kanifing Layout, in the Kanifing Municipality of the Republic of The Gambia, unlawfully assaulted one Mam Jarra Darboe, his niece, by hitting her on her head and pushing her on the ground. He pleaded not guilty when the charge sheet was read to him.
The prosecuting officer, Sergeant 4196 S. Bah, told the court that she was not opposing bail for the accused. “Your Worship, I would like to bring to the attention of the court that the accused is staying together with the complainant. He may cause harm to her,” she said.
However, the accused stated that he did not hit his niece neither did he push her on the ground. “Did he hit you?” the magistrate asked the complainant.
“Yes, he did. In fact, he threatened to kill me,” she responded.
“The problem started between me and my sister well before my niece was born. It is my sister who would push my niece against me. She does not want to see me in my father’s compound. I always leave home early in the morning and I would come back around 11 p.m. just to avoid any trouble. My mother has even advised me to take my wife and the children to the village. I don’t have a peace of mind at home because of my sister and her daughter,” Buba Ceesay told the court.
At this juncture, Magistrate Touray said that he had taken note of the prosecutor’s concern. He subsequently granted the accused bail in the sum of D25,000 with a Gambian surety who should deposit his or her ID card to the registrar of the court and swear to an affidavit of means. He then strictly warned the accused not to cause any harm to his niece.
Sergeant 4196 S. Bah is expected to make a lineup of her witnesses on the 8th July, 2024, to tell the court what they know about the case.
