Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The High Court in Banjul, presided over by Justice Ebrima Jaiteh, has ordered the Inspector General of Police and three prominent media houses—QTV, Kerr Fatou, and The Fatu Network—to submit video recordings of a police press briefing held on September 15, 2023, as part of the ongoing murder trial of Ousainou Bojang.

Bojang stands accused of the fatal shooting of two police officers at the Sukuta-Jabang traffic post in September 2023.

The court’s directive followed an oral application made by defense counsel Lamin J. Darboe, who argued that the recordings were crucial to the defense. The application was backed by Adama Sillah, lawyer for the second accused person, Amie Bojang.

The application drew objections from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), A.M. Yusuf, who argued that such requests should be formally submitted in writing.

However, Justice Jaiteh dismissed the objection, deeming it a mere “technical barrier” and emphasizing that the interests of justice must take precedence.

“The requirement of a formal application in writing should not be allowed to override the broader interests of justice, particularly where the existence and relevance of the material sought are not in doubt,” Justice Jaiteh ruled.

He added that the objection lacked substantive merit and underscored that the material requested is of public interest and directly relevant to the trial.

“To deny this application merely on the basis that it was not formally filed would amount to elevating form over substance and potentially undermine the constitutional right to a fair trial,” the judge said.

Citing Section 221 of the Evidence Act and Section 24(3)(e) of the 1997 Constitution, the court reaffirmed the accused person’s right to obtain evidence on equal terms as the prosecution.

The case has been adjourned to June 30, 2025, with the court ordering that the recordings be produced before the next hearing.

Audio Recording from Government Spokesperson Submitted

Earlier in the session, West Coast Radio submitted an audio recording of a September 14, 2023, interview with government spokesperson Ebrima G. Sankareh, which was played in court and marked as Exhibit DD3.

In the interview, Sankareh revealed that President Barrow had confirmed Bojang’s arrest and that the suspect had been extradited from Senegal.

Sankareh also claimed that a murder weapon and money linked to the crime had been recovered, and that CCTV footage connected Bojang to the shooting.

Under cross-examination, he acknowledged that he relied on police information, adding, “I’m at liberty to talk to anyone working in the government.” He also said he had not personally seen the CCTV footage—only a widely circulated photo on social media showing the alleged shooter in a hoodie.

“This case was unprecedented in Gambian history. These were not ordinary people but police officers,” Sankareh told the court.

On the question of a D1 million bounty reportedly announced by the President, Sankareh said he had no knowledge of whether the payment was ever made.

When questioned on why he gave details of the case publicly, Sankareh defended his actions, stating, “I disagree; I’m the boss of the police PRO.” He insisted he had not mentioned any political affiliations of the accused and expressed frustration over being misquoted.

The exchange also drew objections from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who accused Sillah of paraphrasing Sankareh’s statements inaccurately and raising politically sensitive issues.

Sankareh was eventually discharged after no further questions were posed by the prosecution or the other defence counsel.

Testimony from the Deputy Inspector General of Police

Deputy Inspector General of Police Momodou Sowe also took the stand, confirming that a press briefing occurred on September 15, 2023.

However, he testified that he did not mention Ousainou Bojang during the briefing and had no personal knowledge of crucial elements such as phone records, the murder weapon, or the bounty allegedly offered by the President.

Sowe said he could not recall if the briefing was recorded or whether media houses were in attendance.

The trial is expected to resume on June 30, 2025, with the court awaiting submission of the video evidence it has now compelled.