By Dawda M. Jallow
The Chief Executive Officer of Ejabah Travelling and Tours Ltd, Kanimang Bajo, has been granted bail of D28 million after pleading not guilty to allegedly obtaining nearly D29 million from prospective Hajj pilgrims under false pretenses.
Bajo appeared before Principal Magistrate M. Krubally at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on Monday on a charge of obtaining money by false pretense, contrary to Section 265 of the Criminal Offences Act 2025.
The prosecution alleged that the accused obtained D28,901,640 from several individuals after representing that he would facilitate their travel to Makkah for the Hajj pilgrimage, knowing the representation to be false.
The charge was read in English and translated into Mandinka, the language chosen by the accused, who entered a plea of not guilty.
The court informed Bajo that he is presumed innocent under the Constitution and that the prosecution bears the burden of proving the allegation beyond reasonable doubt.
The prosecution applied for an adjournment to begin presenting its evidence at the next hearing. While it did not oppose bail, it asked the court to take into account the substantial amount involved in the case.
Defense counsel M.L. Ceesay urged the court to admit his client to bail, citing constitutional and statutory provisions governing the presumption of innocence and the right to bail.
In his ruling, Magistrate Krubally held that the offence was bailable and noted that the prosecution had raised no objection to the application.
The court admitted Bajo to bail in the sum of D28 million on condition that he provides two responsible Gambian sureties. Each surety must produce a title deed, with the combined value of the properties amounting to D28 million, along with valid identification, contact details, verified residential addresses and affidavits of means.
The magistrate further ordered the sureties to guarantee the accused’s attendance throughout the trial and warned that the bail bond would be forfeited if he absconds or fails to appear.
The case was adjourned until 2 September 2026 for the commencement of hearing.