Africa-Press – Gambia. The High Court in Banjul on Thursday denied bail for Sanna Manjang and ordered the State to file a bill of indictment in the capital offence case pending against him.
Presiding judge Justice Sidi K. Jobarteh said the matter, which was transferred from the magistrates’ court, remains properly before the High Court until the prosecution submits formal charges.
Defence counsel S.K. Jobe was present at the hearing, while state representatives arrived late.
Jobe informed the court that Manjang’s constitutional rights were being violated as prison authorities had repeatedly refused him access to his client. He added that the accused’s family, including his sons, had also been denied visits, despite Manjang’s presumption of innocence. The defence urged the court to ensure that the accused’s rights were upheld while the case was pending.
Responding, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions A.M. Yusuf, assisted by M. Drammeh and A. Badjie, argued that the existing charges—classified as capital offences—remained valid until a fresh indictment was filed. He said the accused had refused to cooperate with investigators, and therefore, the application for bail had no merit.
Justice Jobarteh held that although Manjang enjoyed the constitutional presumption of innocence, his remanding by the Magistrates’ Court was lawful. She added that given the gravity of the alleged offence and the absence of conditions favouring bail, the court could not order his release at this stage.
The court then directed the state to file the bill of indictment no later than 12 January 2026. It also ordered the Director General of Prisons to grant Manjang access to his lawyer pending the plea-taking session. The case was adjourned to 15 January 2026 at 10:00 a.m. for plea-taking.
For More News And Analysis About Gambia Follow Africa-Press
