By Isatou Sarr
Victims in the Kanimang Bajo case have expressed dissatisfaction with the release of the accused on D35 million bail, questioning whether the conditions imposed by the court were properly fulfilled.
The concerns were raised at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, Sept. 9, before the testimony of the fifth prosecution witness.
Commissioner of Prosecution A. Sanneh told the court that he had been confronted by some of the victims during the last adjournment over Bajo’s release from police custody.
Bajo was granted bail in the sum of D35 million, with two Gambian sureties. The court ordered that each surety must earn at least D100,000 per month or, alternatively, provide property valued at D35 million.
The victims, however, questioned the eligibility of the two sureties, claiming that they are employees of Bajo’s company and receive salaries from the business.
They argued that the sureties therefore may not meet the court’s requirement of earning at least D100,000 per month independently.
The victims also asked to verify through court records whether the D35 million bail condition had been fulfilled.
Responding to the concerns, Commissioner Sanneh said it was not his responsibility to produce the relevant documents. He advised the victims to apply to the court if they wished to examine the records.
The victims further questioned how Bajo was able to satisfy all the bail conditions within a short period.
Principal Magistrate Kurubally said he had granted bail judiciously and that it was the responsibility of the Registrar of the Court to ensure that the conditions attached to the bail order were fulfilled.
“I have made orders and granted bail of D35 million. So, if the Registrar said the accused has fulfilled the bail conditions, then I have nothing else to say,” Magistrate Kurubally told the court.
Bajo is no longer in police custody following the fulfilment of the bail conditions, although the victims continue to raise questions over the eligibility of the sureties and the process through which the bail requirements were satisfied.
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