Magistrate Freddie Forster of the Brikama Magistrate Court on Thursday 16th July granted bail to all 18 accused persons even though they were not in court. Their defence counsels adopted the previous bail application filed by lawyer Edu Gomez on 10th July.

Defence Counsel Edu Gomez told the court that he had earlier on made a bail application but the matter was adjourned for a ruling on his application. He expressed hope that his colleagues would also make the same application as the offences are bailable.

Defence Counsel Lamin Jobateh said he is in line with Mr. Gomez's Submission. He added that the accused persons are innocent until proven guilty. He added that bail is a right under section 99 of the constitution. He said that the accused persons are married with large families. He urged the court to grant them bail with or without condition.

Other defence counsels, Antouman Gaye, Lamin Mboge, Lamin S. Camara and Assan Martin all associated themselves to the application made by Mr. Gomez.

The State Counsel Abubacarr Muhammed said they are not opposing bail, but added that it should also guarantee the availability of the accused persons anytime they are needed by the court.

Counsel Lamin S. Camara urged the court to put into consideration the bail condition of the accused persons to be inline with others.

Magistrate Forster granted bail to the 1st accused person in the sum of D50, 000 with two Gambian Sureties, and each should deposit a valid I.D Card, tin number and a reliable address to the court. The rest were granted bail in the sum of D80, 000 dalasi with two Gambian sureties, valid ID card, tin number and a reliable address to the court.

The 18 accused persons namely, O/C Kaddy Jammeh Jabang, Chief Inspector Aloya Jammeh, Inspector Matida Camara, Inspector Mbaka Janneh, Cadet Modou Lamin Manneh, Ebrima Sillah, Abdou Jatta, Mam Kumba Jamanka, Baboucarr Bajinka, Kinti Janneh, Lamin Sonko, Foday Cessay, Modou L. Jarju, Ebrima Jallow, Muhammad Allen, Cherno Bah, Sarjo Sonko and Ebrima Bah, who were all absent in court and the charge sheet was not read out in court. Both the courtroom and the premises were filled to capacity until the PIU had to intervened to control the crowd. The case was adjourned to 31st July for plea to be taken.

It could be recalled that the 18 accused persons were arrested at the Banjul International Airport on 3rdJuly and were detained at the Yundum Police Station until the 10th July, when they were arraigned in court and charged with "conspiracy and forgery".

They were accused of conspiring and receiving the sum of D10, 500, from Cherno Bah to enable his brother Ebrima Bah to travel to U.S with a forged passport