By: Isatou Sarr
The Kanifing Magistrates’ Court has granted bail to Abdou Wahab Jobarteh, who is facing charges related to reckless, dangerous and unlicensed driving.
Jobarteh was initially arraigned at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on four counts before the case was transferred to the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, where he was later charged on three counts.
He is alleged to have driven a Mercedes Benz C-Class with registration number BJL 6726 J on 5 June 2026 within Kanifing and surrounding areas in a manner considered dangerous to the public, in breach of Section 49(1) of the Motor Traffic Act.
He is also charged with driving without a valid licence under Section 36 of the Act, and careless driving under Section 51.
Jobarteh pleaded not guilty to all charges after the charge sheet was read and interpreted in Wolof.
Assistant Commissioner M. Manga, assisted by Sgt 3217 E. Camara, represented the Inspector General of Police, while Counsel A. Sillah represented the accused.
The defence applied for bail, arguing that the offences were bailable and citing constitutional provisions on the right to liberty and the presumption of innocence. The prosecution opposed the application, stating that investigations were still ongoing.
In her ruling, Magistrate A. Manneh held that bail is a constitutional and statutory right under Section 123 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2025, and that pre-trial detention remains an exception.
She said bail might only be refused where there were reasonable grounds to believe an accused might abscond, interfere with witnesses, or obstruct investigations, as provided under Section 126.
The magistrate noted that the prosecution had not provided evidence showing that Jobarteh would interfere with witnesses or obstruct investigations.
She added that the seriousness of the charges alone was not sufficient grounds for denying bail.
The court therefore granted bail in the sum of D100,000, with three Gambian sureties in like sum. The accused was also ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses and to attend all court sittings.
The case was adjourned to 1 July 2026 at 10:30 a.m. for the hearing of prosecution witnesses.
Jobarteh was later transferred to Mile 2 Central Prison pending fulfilment of his bail conditions.
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