By Nelson Manneh
Justice Aminata Saho-Ceesay of the Banjul High Court has asked lawyers for 3 Years Jotna leaders to make a formal bail application.
The ruling came after the lawyers for the defendants made an oral application for bail.
The leadership of the 3 Years Jotna Movement is currently under remand at the State’s central prison in Mile II. They were charged at the lower court with three criminal counts and the matter was transferred to the high court because the magistrate’s court lacks the jurisdiction to try the count on demolishing structures.
They were charged at the lower court with unlawful assembly, rioting after proclamation and rioters demolishing structures contrary to sections 70, 74 and 76 of the Criminal Code respectively.
The accused persons are; Abdou Njie, the chairman of the movement, Ebrima Kitim Jarju, Sheriffo Sonko, Hagi Suwaneh (the spokesperson), Fanta Mballow, Karim Touray, Yankuba Darboe (alias Yanks Darboe) and Muctarr Ceesay.
After the ruling was made, Rachel Y. Mendy, the lead defence counsel informed the court that they will file a formal bail application by Monday 10th February 2020.
The Matter was then adjourned to Tuesday the 11th February 2020 at 12 am for the hearing of the bail application.
Lawyers Patrick Gomez, Muhammed B. Sowe, N.S Bangura M. Njie, and A.A Marong represented the State and Lawyers Rachel Y. Mendy, Lamin S. Camara, Neneh M.C. Cham, Lamin J. Darboe, Lamin L. Darboe, A.M.O Badjie, Abdoulie Fatty, A. Jarju and Kaddijatou Jallow appeared for the accused persons.
The accused persons were arrested and charged following the 26th January 2020 protest in which they were demanding President Adama Barrow to respect his promise to the Gambians to serve for only 3 years and step down. The Movement first held their protest on the 16th December 2019 and in both protests they were issued a permit by the police.
