Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The High Court in Banjul has awarded journalist Pa Modou Bojang D15 million in damages and D200,000 in legal costs in a landmark ruling against the Inspector General of Police, the Minister of Interior, and the Attorney General. The case stemmed from Bojang’s brutal assault by Police Intervention Unit (PIU) officers during the infamous Faraba Banta incident in June 2018.

The incident occurred while Bojang, a journalist and radio presenter, was covering violent clashes between police and protesters in Faraba Banta, a village 50 kilometers south of Banjul. The confrontation left multiple civilians dead and many injured.

Bojang recounted the harrowing ordeal, stating, “I identified myself as a journalist with my professional press card, but they slapped and beat me anyway. They said, ‘You journalists have destroyed this country, and if Yahya Jammeh were here, we would have killed all of you.’”

The abuse reportedly included attempts by officers to erase Bojang’s recorded material. “They asked me to format my mobile. I refused. They took my audio recorder,” Bojang said. His audio recorder was never returned, and he was released later that evening, bloodied and visibly shaken, as captured in a video that circulated widely on social media.

In response to the assault, Bojang filed a lawsuit in 2018, seeking compensation for assault, battery, mental trauma, unlawful detention, and public humiliation.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Sonia Akinbiyi underscored the severity of the abuses Bojang endured and held the state accountable for the actions of its officers. The court’s decision included D15 million in damages to compensate for the journalist’s physical and emotional suffering, alongside D200,000 in legal costs.

Bojang’s lawyer, Lamin J. Darboe, hailed the ruling as a significant victory for press freedom and accountability. The judgment reinforces the rights of journalists to work without fear of violence or intimidation.

The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by journalists in The Gambia, even after the departure of former president Yahya Jammeh, whose regime was marked by systematic press suppression.

The Faraba Banta incident and Bojang’s subsequent treatment underscore the urgent need for sustained reform in law enforcement practices and increased protection for journalists in the country.