An influential cattle dealer, Ebrima Saidy, has lamented that since his remand in custody at the State Central Prison in Banjul, he only made two court appearances and that he has been languishing in jail since last year.

Ebrima Saidy is at the centre of allegations of stealing five heads of cattle and could not still gain his liberty as his case proceeds thanks to his failure to fulfill the bail requirements.

He was early this week brought to the Brikama Magistrates’ Court in Western Region but his trial could not proceed as the prosecution officer was not in court.

Ebrima stands accused of stealing five heads of cattle in Farato village last year. The cattle were valued at D60,000 but when he was late last year arraigned at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court and his alleged offence read and interpreted to him, he denied the allegations and was, therefore, granted bail in the sum of D30,000.

This week, he informed the court that he could not meet the bail conditions and would consequently like the court to reconsider its decision.

However, according to magistrate Edrissa Mbai, the court could not reduce the D30,000 bail bond since the alleged stolen heads cattle was worth more than D30,000. Ebrima was, therefore, returned to Mile II, pending the resumption of his case on July, 24.