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Gambia News : Former Presidential Bodyguard Remains in Custody

Lieutenan Bakary Camara, the former bodyguard to President Jammeh standing trial for alleged theft and giving false information to a public officer, is reported to be still in custody in spite of having been granted bail by the Magistrates’ court hearing his case. Lt. Camara was expected to appear yesterday before Magistrate Kayode of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court for trial on offences alleged against him by the authorities. But according to Corporal 1831 Sanyang, the police had gone to collect the accused from custody. He therefore applied for the case to be stood down. The application was granted by the court.

When the case was called for the second time, Corporal Sanyang informed the court that the prosecution handling the case is engaged in another official mission and applied for an adjournment.

The defence counsel, Lawyer Camara, raised no objection to the adjournment of the case, but registered his dismay at the continuous detention of his client. He said he did not know the reason why the police should go for the accused from custody, noting that the accused is on bail in respect of the case before the court.

Lawyer Lamin Camara further stated that the accused had met all the bail conditions imposed on the bail bond and that he saw no reason why they should fetch the accused from custody. He argued that there is no pending charge against his client and he urged the court to press on the other party to comply with the court order.

The accused has been standing trial at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court for the offence of stealing and giving false information to a public officer.

Count 1 states that the accused on or about 10th January 2008 at Banjul in The Gambia, converted Ssanyong Korando 290 SR bearing vehicle number BJL 4063B, property of the government of The Gambia, to the private ownership and use of Domenico Fedeli and thereby committed an offence.

In Count II, the particulars of the offence indicate that the accused on or about the 10th day of January 2008 at Banjul The Gambia, gave false information to Fansu A.D. Faburay of the Police Licensing Authority that the President of the Republic has made a gift of and authorised the transfer of the motor vehicle Ssanyong Korando 290 SR with registration number BJL 4063 B, property of the government of The Gambia to the private ownership and use of Domenico Fedeli, which information was acted upon to effect a transfer of ownership to the said Domenico Fedeli and thereby committed an offence.

In Count III, the particulars of offence stated that the accused on or about the 10th day of January 2008 at Banjul in The Gambia gave false information to Manlafi Sanyang, Controller of government vehicles, State House, that the President of the Republic had made a gift of and authorised the transfer of the motor vehicle Ssanyong Korondo 290 SR with registration number BJL 4063 B, property of the government of The Gambia to the private ownership and use of Domenico Fedeli, which information was acted upon to effect a transfer of ownership, and therefore committed an offence.

The Case was adjourned to 4th March, 2008.

Src: Point, The