By Bruce Asemota
Senior state counsel Patrick Gomez has informed Justice Ebrima Ba Jaiteh of the High Court in Banjul that one Ousman Touray and Saikou Sanneh have jumped police bail and are presently outside The Gambia as fugitives.
Gomez told the court Tuesday that the state intended to amend the charge sheet to conform with the prevailing situation.
Media reports earlier indicated that 14 people have been implicated in the diplomatic passport scam but only four, Mansa Sumareh; Ebrima JS Sanneh; Ousman Touray and Saikou Sanneh, have been charged with various offences ranging from forgery, conspiracy, uttering false documents, making false documents without authority, procuring execution of documents by false pretence among other things.
Since Touray and Saikou Sanneh jumped bail, only Sumareh and Ebrima Sanneh appeared before the court on Tuesday.
During the court sitting, Sumareh and Sanneh told the court that they were only informed by the police on Monday night to appear in court the following morning and were unable to contact their legal counsel.
Justice Jaiteh told the accused persons that he could have revoked their bail and sent them to prison pending the hearing and determination of a bail application.
He pointed out that since Touray and Saikou Sanneh had jumped police bail, the prosecution would have to amend the charges to remove their names.
Justice Ba Jaiteh advised the two to contact their legal counsel and not to appear in court late warning he could revoke their bail if he saw fit.
The two accused persons were served in court with the bill of indictment.
He told them the court will proceed today, with or without their legal representation.
