The High Court presided over by Hon. Justice Ebrima Jaiteh delivered a ruling on a bail application, ordering a comprehensive medical examination for former soldier Abdoulie Sanyang, who is facing charges of arson and interference with judicial proceedings.
The order was issued following an ex parte motion filed by Abdoulie Sanyang’s defence team, Counsel J. Jeng and F. Bondi, who are seeking to secure bail for their client on medical grounds.
Abdoulie Sanyang, is charged with Judicial Interference and arson, an offence that carries a potential sentence of life imprisonment if found guilty.
In his ruling, Justice Jaiteh granted the motion, declaring it “meritorious and ought to be granted.” He anchored his decision on a statutory obligation imposed by the new Criminal Offences Act, 2025.
The Judge emphasized that the Act makes it mandatory for any accused person charged with a capital or serious offence who seeks bail on medical grounds to have the medical report issued by a qualified medical doctor employed in a Government hospital.
Justice Jaiteh noted that Sanyang’s earlier bail application had failed because the required medical report was not issued by a government medical doctor.
Justice Jaiteh found that the application and its supporting affidavit to be “meritorious and ought to be granted. In its order, Justice Jaiteh issued two directives:
The Director General of Mile 2 Central Prisons is ordered to cause the applicant, Abdoulie Sanyang, to be taken to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital for a comprehensive medical examination.
The Chief Medical Director of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital is directed to ensure that a comprehensive medical examination is conducted on the applicant.
Furthermore, Justice Jaiteh ordered for the medical report of the examination be sealed and produced before the court on the next adjourned date on Monday, October 20, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.
During the proceedings, State Counsel L. Jobarteh argued against the motion, suggesting that the defence should be responsible for arranging the medical examination themselves and not “use the court as a backdoor.”
Justice Jaiteh, however, strongly disagreed with the State’s position. He stressed that the court’s order, compelling a government doctor to conduct the examination and submit the result to ensuring transparency and preventing any tampering with the report.
“This is a government report coming to the court and there will be no tampering,” the Justice Jaiteh asserted, adding that the new judicial procedure would ensure the authenticity of medical evidence presented in criminal cases.
The case adjourned to 20th October 2025 for the presentation of the medical report.
By Kexx Sanneh.
