Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The spokesperson for The Gambia Police Force has dismissed reports suggesting that two men arrested over the weekend on suspicion of engaging in homosexual activity were unconditionally released without charge.
The clarification follows a report by the popular news platform What’s On Gambia, which claimed the suspects—whose identities remain undisclosed—had initially been held at the Police Anti-Crime Unit in Banjulinding but were later released on orders from “higher authorities” without any formal charges being filed. The platform also quoted an unnamed source who speculated that the move might have been driven by concerns over possible international backlash.
However, in an interview with The Standard, police spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent Modou Musa Sisawo, refuted those claims, stating that the two young men, aged 18 and 22, were in fact released on bail while investigations continue.
“They were not unconditionally released. They were granted bail,” ASP Sisawo clarified.
When pressed for details about the charges being considered, the police spokesperson did not provide a definitive answer but indicated that the investigation is centered around what he described as an “unnatural sex offense.”
The suspects were reportedly arrested in Old Yundum, where they allegedly committed the act that led to their detention.
The case has drawn considerable public attention amid the country’s ongoing debates around LGBTQ rights and the legal and social implications of related accusations. Homosexual acts remain criminalized under Gambian law, with penalties that can include lengthy prison sentences.
Authorities have yet to provide further updates regarding potential formal charges or the timeline for concluding the investigation.
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