The latest Gambian deportees, numbering 21, from Spain were on Tuesday arraigned at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court before Principal Magistrate Richards, charged with two counts ranging from unlawful assembly to uttering provocative language tantamount to breach of the peace.

The 21 youth, according to count one of the charge sheet, held unlawful assembly contrary to the Public Order Act, noting that the accused persons on 24th July 2007 gathered at Westfield junction in a manner deemed to provoke a breach of the peace.

In count two of the same sheet, the accused were alleged to have used abusive and provocative language against the president of the republic of The Gambia, capable of causing a breach of the peace.

When the charge sheet was read to the accused persons, all 21 of them pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

According to the accused persons, they were deported from Spain on 24th July and taken to the offices of the Police Intervention Unit. They added that on their way home after they were released, they got to ‘The Youth Monument’ at the same time as the president was unveiling a monument. At that point they were arrested for a supposed offence they only came to discover in court.

They were since being held at Mile II prison.

Prosecutor ASP Bojang objected to the granting of bail to the accused on the ground that they appeared to be of violent disposition.

Magistrate Richards ruled that the accused be remanded in Mile II pending definite hearing into their case. Hearing will resume on 22 August 2007.