Fresh charges have been preferred against Ex-Superintendent Manlafi Sanyang, former controller of Government vehicles at the State House.

Mr Sanyang appeared yesterday before Magistrate Kayode of the Banjul Magistrates’ court on two separate charge sheets both relating to theft. In the first case, the accused Manlafi Sanyang, was charged with stealing a motor vehicle contrary to section 255 (A) of the criminal code.

Particulars of the offence state that the accused Manlafi Sanyang in the month of June 2002 in the city of Banjul the Republic of The Gambia stole Motor vehicle registration number Bjl 4951B Pickup being the property of the Gambian government.

In the second case, the accused Manlafi Sanyang is charged with stealing contrary to section 252 of the criminal code.

The particulars of the offence reveal that Manlafi Sanyang on or about the 10th day of January 2008 at Banjul in The Gambia stole a Ssanyong Karando 290 SR bearing vehicle number Bjl 4063 B property of the Gambian Government.

Inspector Touray, the prosecuting officer, applied for the case to be adjourned to enable the prosecution to assemble witnesses. He further stated that the prosecution is objecting to bail being granted to the accused on the grounds that there is another related matter under investigation by the NIA and the police. He said the fear is that there is likelihood that the accused may tamper with the investigation.

Defence counsel Lawyer Lamin Camara, for his part, said he does not think the reason advanced by the prosecution should warrant the denial to the accused of his right to bail.

He said the offence with which the accused is charged is a bailable offence. He quoted section 99 (1) of the CPC to convince the court to grant bail to the Accused.

Lawyer Camara further stated that the reason of tampering with the investigation, or the possible interference thereof, does not exist at all, because as of now there is a formal charge against the accused before the court, and it is presumed that the investigation is complete, which is why the accused is being charged. He said more importantly the accused had been granted bail by the High Court only to be arrested again and detained. He revealed that the accused had been in detention for the past two weeks in violation of his constitutional rights.

The court, in its ruling, granted bail to the accused in the sum of D200, 000 with a responsible surety who must meet the bail condition.

Case adjourned to 10th March 2008.