By Nicholas Bass
Maju Samba and Maimuna Jallow who appeared before the KanifingMagistrates’ Court presided over by Magistrate Omar Jabang on Tuesday, 11th July 2023 have pleaded not guilty to posting nude videos of FatouCeesay on a Snapchat account.
After reading the charge sheet and interpreting, Maju Samba and MaimunaJallow pleaded not guilty to posting nude videos of the complainant.
However, according to the charge sheet filed before the court MaimunaJallow and Maju Samba at Senegambia and diverse places in the Republic of The Gambia distributed the nude videos of Fatou Ceesay and shared them on Maimuna Jallow’s Snapchat account/page for circulation.
The Police prosecutor Commissioner Abdoulie Sanneh objected to the bail of the accused (Maimuna Jallow and Maju Samba) despite it being a bailableoffence. He noted that, the investigators are still digging into the facts while alleged that some mobs are threatening to attack the accused.
The Prosecutor stressed that the Police Officers must protect lives and properties as it is stated in Section 4 of the Police Act, adding that they owe the accused safety pending the hearing and determination of the matter because it might have a negative effect.
“Therefore, I urge this honourable court to refuse the bail of the accused,” the prosecutor pleaded.
However, the Defence Counsel, Edrisa M. Sissoho, objected to his plea saying, ‘Naturally, I opposed to the prosecutor’s objection for the same reason that he (prosecutor) stated by saying it is a bail able offence, I hereby demand the bail of the accused be granted. It is their right to be granted bail.”
He added that the 2nd accused Maimuna Jallow is a breastfeeding mother which makes it important for her to be granted bail, stating that the Police Officers are able enough to arrest the alleged mobs who were planning to attack the accused persons as he (prosecutor) claimed to have intelligence regarding the alleged mob attack.
Defence Counsel Sissoho strongly dismissed the objection to the bail of his clients, noting that the prosecution’s reasons were unjustifiable for the denial of the bail of the accused. At its peak, Magistrate Jabang called it a day and ordered for the accused to be remanded and the 2nd accused Maimuna Jallowto be in police custody at Bakoteh while adjourning the case.