Messrs Momarr Sowe and Alieu Sarr yesterday appeared before a high court judge, Abi Simon, for the second time this week, three months after they were remanded at Mile 2 Central Prison by the Banjul Magistrates Court.
“He [Alieu Sarr] was held incommunicado from the 9th November to the 24th December, 2014 when he was arraigned before the Banjul Magistrates Court on a charge of aggravated homosexuality,” she said.
“During the course of his detention, he suffered various forms of ill treatment at the hands of NIA officers who interrogated him.”
She further revealed that Mr Sarr was hospitalised at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital at the time his motion for bail was being filed.
The two were arraigned at the high court on Monday together with Modou Lamin Bittaye. Mr Sowe is facing 4 charges of un-natural offences and conspiracy while Mr Sarr is facing 6 charges of the similar offences.
When the trial resumed yesterday, defence lawyers Lamin Camara, Sagarr Jahateh and Combeh Gaye Coker, filed a bail application.
Mrs Coker, who moved the bail application while adopting the briefs of argument of her colleagues, urged the court to release the two men, who have been detained since November, to reunite with their families.
She said both men had denied the charges and could afford the bail conditions. “The investigation into this matter has since concluded and the applicants will not interfere with witnesses if released on bail,” she added.
The state has also filed an affidavit opposing the bail request. The prosecutor, AM Yusuf, urged the court to strike out the motion and dismiss the application for bail.
The case resumes Monday.
]]>
