Court Grants D600,000 Bail to Fajara Shooting Suspect as Judge Orders Disclosure of Evidence

The trial of Salieu Gaye, who is accused of carrying out a shooting in Fajara on January 19, opened on Wednesday before Magistrate A. Manneh, with the court ordering prosecutors to disclose all investigative materials to the defense and granting the defendant bail under strict conditions.

Proceedings began with a dispute over whether the prosecution had provided the defense with key documents, including the charge sheet and witness statements. Defense counsel, B. Badjie, urged the court to compel disclosure, arguing that his client had been denied the materials necessary to prepare an adequate defense.

“We submit that the accused person was not given the charge sheet, witness statements or any materials to prepare for his defense,” Mr. Badjie told the court, citing Section 19 of the Constitution and warning against what he described as trial by ambush.

Inspector Baba Jallow, appearing for the Inspector General of Police, said the prosecution was willing to supply the documents but requested that the defense bear the cost of reproduction.

Magistrate Manneh ruled in favor of the defense, directing prosecutors to furnish all relevant materials before the next sitting to safeguard the accused’s right to a fair trial.

The prosecution then called its first witness, Inspector Samba J. Sowe of the Criminal Investigation Department at Kairaba Police Station, who outlined the sequence of events following the shooting.

Inspector Sowe testified that at about 7 a.m. on January 19, a complainant, Sulayman Bidew, reported that his friend, Muhammed Buhari Mendy, had been shot near Envy nightclub in Fajara. By the time officers arrived at the scene, he said, the victim had already been taken to Kanifing General Hospital. A subsequent search of the area yielded three spent bullet cartridges.

The officer further told the court that a taxi driver, Ansumana Bojang, was later identified and arrested after admitting that he had transported Mr. Gaye and another individual, Abdou Faal, from the scene to Legacy Apartments.

Following the testimony, the defense applied for bail, noting that the victim had since been discharged from the hospital and arguing that the charges — attempted murder and unlawful possession of a firearm — are bailable offenses. Mr. Badjie rejected claims that his client posed a flight risk and said suitable sureties were available.

Inspector Jallow opposed the application, citing the seriousness of the alleged offense and the pending forensic examination of the firearm by the National Army. He also raised concerns about the accused’s residency status and urged the court to consider the safety of the victim.

In her ruling, Magistrate Manneh emphasized the presumption of innocence under Section 24 of the Evidence Act and exercised her discretion under Section 126 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2025, to grant bail in the sum of 600,000 dalasis.

The court imposed strict conditions, including the provision of a title deed of equal or greater value, two Gambian sureties who must swear affidavits of means and surrender their national identity cards, and the deposit of Mr. Gaye’s passport with the court. He was also barred from leaving the country without judicial permission.

The case was adjourned to February 16, 2026, at 10 a.m., when the trial is scheduled to continue.