By Mustapha Jallow
A ‘gele gele’ driver and resident of Bakoteh, Mr. Bunja Nyassi, has been released by the Police at the Police headquarters in Banjul, on 7 February, 2017 around 5pm after being held for 6 days without access or court appearance. This is contrary to section 72 of the constitution.
According to his son, Lamin Nyassi his father is free now but he would still have to be reporting to the police. He however said that the ‘gele gele’ vehicle that was earlier seized by the police has been returned to his father.
An attempt to get the version of the police was unsuccessful.
Bunja Nyassi was arrested by 2 men in plain clothes, who took him to the police headquarters in Banjul.
The wife said that they were denied access when they went to the police headquarters in Banjul. The police on duty told them ‘no communication with him’.
According to section 19 of the constitution, a detainee should be informed of the reason (s) of his/her arrest and given access to a lawyer within three hours; and if such detainee is not released within 72 hours he/she should be brought before a court of law.
