Popularly known social media figure Katim Touray, alias Kartel, was on Thursday arraigned before the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on two serious charges for allegedly circulating an intimate nude video of a young woman without her consent.
Touray, who is based in Italy, appeared before Principal Magistrate Sallah Mbye charged with Publication of Obscene Material in Electronic Form, contrary to Section 170(1) of the Information and Communication Act, and Trafficking in Obscene Publications, contrary to Section 142(1)(a) and (b) of the Criminal Offenses Act 2025.
According to the charges, Touray and co-accused Kaddijatou Bah (still at large) wilfully shared a nude video of one Awa Ndow on WhatsApp and TikTok sometime in May 2025 at Bakoteh. The prosecution alleged the act was done “in a manner calculated to damage her reputation.”
When the charges were read, Touray pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Y.S. Colley, prosecuting, strongly opposed bail, describing the accused as a flight risk. He told the court that Touray resides in Italy, holds Italian residency documents, and had only returned to The Gambia for Tobaski festivities. “He is reliably informed that the accused will soon leave the country,” DSP Colley said.
Defense counsel M.L. Drammeh applied for bail, arguing that the offenses are bailable. Magistrate Sallah Mbye granted bail in the sum of D500,000 with two Gambian sureties, each required to deposit a valid National ID Card with the court registrar. The magistrate further ordered Touray to surrender his Gambian National ID, Gambian passport, Italian residency permit, and all other travel documents for verification.
Additional conditions included verification of sureties’ telephone numbers through GSM service providers.Despite the bail being granted, Touray was unable to perfect the stringent conditions before the court rose. He was subsequently remanded to Mile 2 Central Prison.
The case has been adjourned to 24th June 2025 at 11:00 am for the testimony of the prosecution’s first witness.
