In a heartfelt open letter addressed to the Government of The Gambia, the Office of the President, the Ministry of Justice, the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Police Commissioner, and the Kanifing Municipal Council, the family of Binta Gassama, a 62-year-old woman brutally murdered in her home on September 4, 2022, expressed profound disbelief and dismay at the recent decision to grant bail to one of the accused persons in her case.
Judge Isatou Janneh at the Bundung court granted bail to the accused on February 28, 2024, after several delays and adjournments since the case was first presented in court in February 2023. The family, while understanding the complexities of the legal system and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, believes that in cases of severe crimes such as murder, the granting of bail should be approached with utmost caution and consideration for public safety.
The bail amount of 500,000 GMD has been met with shock and disbelief by the family, who see it as trivializing the value of their mother’s life. They question when a murder case became bailable, especially when the documents presented to warrant this decision are questionable.
The family implores the authorities to reconsider this decision and take immediate action to revoke the bail granted. They emphasize that the safety and well-being of the community should be paramount, and allowing accused murderers to roam free poses an unacceptable risk to public safety and undermines the foundations of the legal system.
The family also urges the authorities to ensure that those responsible for Binta Gassama’s murder are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. They emphasize that justice must be served, not only for their mother and their family but for all those who have suffered at the hands of violence and injustice.
The letter concludes with a plea to the authorities to listen to the voices of victims and their families, empathize with their pain and grief, and take decisive action to ensure that no other family has to endure the heartache and anguish they have experienced. They call for solidarity in the quest for justice and a clear message that violence, in any form, will not be tolerated in Gambian society.
