Five Gambian citizens who are being tried for conspiracy in a drug trafficking case have been granted bail by Hon. Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the Gambia High Court.
Seedy Ceesay (5th accused), Lamin Ceesay (6th accused), Yaya K. Jatta (7th accused), Modou Bojang (8th accused), and Muhammad Jallow (9th accused) are the Gambians who were given bail. They are charged with the following four Portuguese nationals: Miriam Maria Mendes (4th accused), Simara Nadiya Martins (3rd accused), Vilma Cabral Roel (1st accused), and Ana Patricia Dos Santos Furtado (2nd accused).
Aggravated drug trafficking under Section 43(a) of the Drug Control (Amendment) Act 2011, dealing with prohibited drugs under Section 33(1)(c) of the Drug Control Act Cap 13:05 Vol. III, Revised Laws of the Gambia 2009, and conspiracy to deal with prohibited drugs under Section 53(1)(a) of the same Act are the three criminal charges the attorney general has brought against the defendant.
The State did not object to the bail requests made by the five Gambians’ defense lawyers. Under strict guidelines, Hon. Justice Jaiteh granted approval for these applications.
According to the bail requirements, the fifth through eighth accused must post bail of D600,000 each, while Muhammad Jallow, the ninth accused, was given D300,000. A Gambian surety who has property worth at least the bail amount and will produce an affidavit of means for the same amount must also be provided by each accused person.
“The Accused Persons shall each furnish one Gambian surety who shall be the owner of a landed property whose value should not be less than the bail sum and who shall swear to an affidavit of means in the like sum.” A reputable estate valuer or a government estate valuer will appraise the sureties’ properties, and the valuation report will be completed on or after this court’s decision,” Hon. Justice Jaiteh directed.
Before the accused can be freed, the property values must also be completed by a professional estate valuer and authorized by the Principal Registrar.
Additionally, Justice Jaiteh ordered the accused to show up for all court appearances on time until the trial was over. The matter has been postponed until November 12, 2024.
