Gambiaj.com – (KANIFING, The Gambia) – Salieu Gaye, the man accused of shooting Muhammed Buhary Mendy three times at Propaganda Envy Night Club in Fajara, has been granted bail in the sum of D600,000 by the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.
Gaye is facing charges of attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm in connection with the January 19, 2026, shooting.
In her ruling, Presiding Magistrate A. Manneh admitted the accused to bail in the sum of D600,000 with two Gambian sureties. In the alternative, the court ordered that a title deed valued at D600,000 or more, situated within the Greater Banjul Area, may be deposited.
The accused was also ordered to surrender his passport and all travel documents to the court registrar pending the determination of the case.
Bail Application and Objection
The bail application was moved by Defence Counsel B. Badjie, who argued that the alleged offence is bailable and that the victim had already been discharged from hospital. Counsel submitted that granting bail does not amount to an acquittal but rather affords the accused temporary liberty while the matter proceeds.
However, Inspector Jallow, representing the Inspector General of Police, opposed the application. He informed the court that the alleged firearm used in the incident had been sent to the Gambia Armed Forces for ballistic analysis, and that the report was still pending.
The prosecution further raised concerns about the accused’s residency status, submitting that Gaye does not reside in The Gambia and could abscond if released.
Inspector Jallow also stated that the safety of the accused was a priority and that he would be protected while in custody.
Despite the objections, Magistrate Manneh granted bail under the stated conditions.
Disclosure and Courtroom Concerns
Earlier in the proceedings, Defence Counsel Badjie complained that his client was consistently brought to court in handcuffs, urging the court to consider that the accused should not be restrained while in the courtroom.
In response, Inspector Jallow maintained that the use of handcuffs was a security measure necessitated by prior incidents involving attacks on officers and prisoner escapes.
The defence also raised concerns about disclosure, stating that the accused had not been served with the charge sheet or witness statements, thereby hindering preparation of his defence.
Counsel argued that the accused should not be subjected to “trial by ambush” and urged the court to compel the prosecution to provide all documents it intends to rely upon.
The prosecution replied that the case file was available and that the defense had not formally requested the documents. In her ruling, Magistrate Manneh directed the prosecution to furnish the defense with all necessary documents before the next adjourned date.
Police Testimony
During the hearing, Prosecution Witness Two, Police Officer Samba J. Jallow of the CID Unit at Kairaba Police Station, testified that on January 19, police received a report from one Sulayman that his friend, Muhammed Buhary Mendy, had been shot in Fajara.
The witness told the court that the victim had already been taken to the hospital by the time the report was made. Investigators were dispatched to the scene, where they recovered three bullet cartridges and interviewed witnesses.
According to the officer, a taxi driver who allegedly transported the accused and another individual from the scene was arrested and questioned.
The driver reportedly told investigators that he picked up the accused at the Envy building and dropped him at Legacy Apartment Junction in Fajara, an area that subsequent investigations linked to the accused’s grandmother’s residence.
The matter was adjourned to a later date for continuation of proceedings.
