High Court Dismisses Former NIA Director of Finance Bail Review Application

The Criminal Division of the Banjul High Court yesterday dismissed the bail review application filed by the applicant Bakary Gassama former NIA director of finance.

According to Justice Joseph Wowo, the motion filed by the applicant is incompetent. He said the applicant should have filed an appeal against the Magistrates’ Court order rather then filing an application for bail review. He later advised the applicant to file an appeal against the Magistrates’ Court order.

The applicant Bakary Gassama, who is standing trial at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on a charge of abuse of offence, was seeking at the High Court for a review of the bail condition imposed on him by the trial Magistrates’ Court as he could not fulfil the conditions.

The bail condition stipulates D100, 000 with a Gambian surety who must be in the rank of a police Commissioner.

Mr Gassama was alleged that in May 2008 at the NIA office in the City of Banjul abused his office by receiving the sum of D51, 000 from one Babucarr Jallow for safe keeping knowingly that the said amount was stolen.