The bail application for the three men standing trial for gun protection charms was on Tuesday rejected by Principal Magistrate Edrisa M’bai of the Banjul Magistrates Court. The application was filed in by Pap Yassin Secka, defence counsel for the 3rd accused person.

The three accused persons are Alasan Mbow, Babucarr Njie and Osseh Abdoulie Corr.

Lawyer Secka had argued that since the accused are said to have committed the crime with others who are still at large, they should be granted bail since investigations into the whereabouts of the other accused persons are still ongoing. According to him, refusal to grant the three accused bail would tantamount to punishment before conviction.

However, state counsel, Amie Jobe, refuted this argument as according to her “if these accused persons are granted bail, they will tamper with and jeopardize our investigations”.

Ruling on the issue, Magistrate M’bai said he did not see how the fact that the rest of the accused persons are still at large should be used as a justification to grant bail to the trio.

He also ordered that if the prison authority should deem it necessary and there is no potential security risk involved, the accused persons should be allow visits from their relatives.