Remanded State House Security Officers Apply for Bail

Superintendent Manlafi Sanyang and Lt. Bakary Camara, State House security officers who are currently remanded at Mile 2 prisons for alleged criminal offences, have applied for bail at the Banjul High Court.

Lawyer Lamin Camara, counsel for the applicants, informed the court before Justice Naceesay Sallah-Wadda that the application for bail before the court is by way of a motion filed on behalf of the applicants. He said the application is pursuant to section 19 of the constitution of The Gambia, section 99 of the CPC and section 8 of decree no. 16 on economic crimes. He said the motion is seeking bail for the accused, pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Lawyer Camara deplored that the applicants were in remand at the state central prison as their three-count trial before the Banjul Magistrates court is yet to be settled. He said the charges before the applicants are conspiracy to commit felony, stealing and economic crimes, which are all bailable offences under the Laws of The Gambia. He made reference to sections of the law giving the high court the jurisdiction to grant bail to the applications. He said the 1997 constitution of The Gambia under section 19 (5) also confirmed the High Court’s jurisdiction to grant bail to the applicants.

State counsel MA Jobe did not oppose to the bail application but quoted section 8 (1 A and B) of the economic crime decree in an attempt underline the condition of bail under the economic crime decree.

It could be recalled that the accused persons, Superintendent Manlafi Sanyang, Vehicle Logistics Officer at State House, and Lt. Bakary Camara, body guard to the President, were accused of stealing a motor vehicle BJL 4063B on 10th January 2008, thereby causing economic loss to the republic of The Gambia.

Since their arrest and subsequent arraignment before the court, they have been remanded at the Mile 2 prisons.

The proceedings were finally adjourned to today for ruling on the bail application.