Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The murder trial of former Jungler Sanna Manjang continued on Tuesday before Justice Sidi K. Jobarteh at the High Court. Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions E. R. Dougan appeared for the State alongside prosecutors F. Drammeh and A. Badjie. Defense Counsel Sheriff Kumba Jobe represented the accused.
The State called its first witness, a police officer attached to Kairaba Police Station who served as one of the investigators in the case. After taking the oath, the officer told the court he recognized the accused, Sanna Manjang, in the dock.
The witness testified that in November 2025, he was instructed by DSP Demba to join an investigation panel looking into the alleged killings of Kajali Jammeh, Bai Dem, and Samba Wurry, which the State alleges were committed by the accused.
He said he was assigned to obtain a cautionary and voluntary statement from Manjang. On 8 November 2025, he visited the accused at Mile 2 Central Prison for that purpose.
The officer said he administered the cautionary wording and recorded the accused’s personal details and the allegations. However, the accused declined to make any statement or sign the document without his lawyer present.
The witness said he could identify the cautionary statement. When shown the document by Deputy DPP Dougan, he identified it by his name, rank, and signature. Defence counsel raised no objection, and the document was admitted into evidence.
The officer further testified that on 17 November 2025, he was part of a team that visited an alleged crime scene in Kanilai. He said a person he identified as Essa Keita led the team to a garden area and pointed out a building that he claimed had been used as a detention center.
According to the witness, Essa Keita alleged that killings had taken place there. The officer described the building as consisting of two rooms and a parlour, with a tap outside that appeared to have been moved. He told the court that Crime Record Officers took photographs of the location.
Cross-Examination
During cross-examination, defense counsel S. K. Jobe questioned the witness about his role in the investigation.
The witness confirmed he did not visit Kanilai with the accused and did not invite him to the scene, explaining that he was a junior officer and not responsible for issuing such invitations.
He identified the lead investigator as DSP Jally M. I. Senghore and said the panel included personnel from the Gambia Police Force, the State Intelligence Service, and the Armed Forces. He said he did not know all the members by name.
The officer confirmed that not all investigators visited Kanilai and that he did not know the exact number who attended.
Defense counsel put it to the witness that the location visited was known as “Warne,” within the former president’s residential area, and suggested it was a guard post rather than a detention center. The witness replied that the guide referred to it as “Warne” but maintained that it was alleged to have been used as a detention centre.
The witness told the court that soldiers were present at the location but said he did not personally question them, as his supervisor handled that aspect of the investigation.
He agreed that his conclusions about the site were based on information provided by others and that he did not independently verify all aspects. He said there was a division of responsibilities within the investigation team, and his primary role was taking statements.
The officer also confirmed that he had only visited Kanilai and Mile 2 Central Prison during the investigation. He told the court he had never seen the alleged victims, Kajali Jammeh, Bai Dem, or Samba Wurry, in life, nor had he seen their identification documents, bodies, or burial sites.
He further testified that he prepared an investigation record, which he submitted to the lead investigator, DSP Senghore, who signed it.
Dispute Over Additional Witnesses
At the conclusion of the testimony, Deputy DPP Dougan informed the court that the State intends to call an additional witness.
Defense counsel Jobe objected, describing the approach as “piecemeal prosecution” and urging the State to present all its witnesses and documents at once to allow the defense to prepare adequately.
Deputy DPP Dougan rejected the characterization, telling the court the prosecution was working to establish the truth and that the need for additional witnesses arose during the proceedings. He emphasized that the State bears the burden of proving its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Jobarteh adjourned the case to the next session for continuation of the trial.
The proceedings form part of prosecutions arising from alleged crimes committed during the era of former President Yahya Jammeh.
