Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The bail application filed on behalf of former military officer Sanna Manjang was on Tuesday withdrawn and subsequently struck out by the High Court in Banjul after his defense counsel complained that the prosecution served its response too late for him to properly consider and respond to it.
Manjang is facing two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm under Section 228 of the Criminal Code. He had applied for bail following the amendment of the charges against him.
Defense Withdraws Bail Application
At the previous sitting on July 17, 2026, Defense Counsel S.K. Jobe made an oral application for bail, arguing that the amended charges were bailable offenses.
Relying on Section 19 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2025, Counsel Jobe submitted that the offenses before the Court were minor and legally bailable.
“I don’t see any reason why the accused should not be granted bail because the new amended charges are both bailable,” Jobe argued.
The State, however, opposed the application, citing concerns about Manjang’s alleged desertion from the Gambia Armed Forces, his prolonged absence from The Gambia, and the circumstances surrounding his return to the country.
State Raises Desertion, TRRC Concerns
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DDPP) E.R. Dougan told the Court that Manjang was a serving member of the Gambia Armed Forces in 2017 and was subsequently listed among personnel alleged to have deserted.
The prosecution tendered the list of personnel recorded as having deserted the Armed Forces, which was admitted as Exhibit A.
According to the State, Manjang could not be located following his alleged desertion, prompting an application to the Magistrates’ Court for a warrant of arrest. The warrant, which the prosecution said was issued on February 7, 2025, was tendered and marked as Exhibit B.
DDPP Dougan further told the Court that Manjang remained outside The Gambia for approximately nine years before he was eventually apprehended and returned through the efforts of Gambian and Senegalese law enforcement authorities.
The prosecution argued that Manjang did not voluntarily return to The Gambia to submit himself to the jurisdiction of the Court, but was instead apprehended and returned following law enforcement efforts.
The State maintained that his alleged prolonged absence, desertion from the Armed Forces, and the circumstances surrounding his return created a risk that he could abscond if granted bail.
The prosecution also relied on the Gambia Armed Forces’ official AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave) Register of Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, which it said recorded that Manjang had absented himself from his unit on January 23, 2017. The document was admitted as Exhibit C.
The State additionally raised Manjang’s alleged military links to the former regime’s “Junglers” or “Black Black” unit, as well as his alleged involvement in matters investigated by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC).
Prosecution Cites TRRC Findings
DDPP Dougan told the Court that Manjang had been adversely mentioned during the TRRC proceedings in connection with alleged human rights violations committed during the former regime.
The relevant TRRC reports and Government White Paper were tendered as Exhibit D.
According to the prosecution, the TRRC findings and recommendations subsequently contributed to the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, with a recommendation that Manjang face prosecution.
The State argued that the allegations and findings were matters of significant public interest and should be considered alongside the broader circumstances documented during the TRRC process.
Dougan urged the Court to take into account Manjang’s alleged antecedents, his prolonged absence from the country, and the circumstances of his apprehension, arguing that these factors made it unsafe to release him on bail.
She submitted that granting bail would not be in the interest of justice.
Defense Cites Late Service
When the matter came before Justice Jobarteh on Tuesday, however, Counsel Jobe informed the Court that the prosecution had served its formal response to the bail application very late.
Jobe said he had not been given sufficient time to read and properly consider the State’s response and would therefore be unable to respond to it adequately.
He further argued that preparing a formal response would require additional time and could affect the Court’s vacation schedule.
The defense consequently withdrew the bail application. The prosecution did not object to the withdrawal.
Justice Jobarteh subsequently struck out the application.
The decision means the Court did not determine the bail application on its substantive merits.
Manjang therefore remains before the High Court on two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm. He has denied the allegations and remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case is scheduled to resume on October 15, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., for the continuation of the defence testimony.
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