Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The High Court in Banjul on Tuesday ordered West Coast Radio to submit the audio recording of an interview it conducted with government spokesperson Ebrima G. Sankareh, as the high-profile trial of Ousainou Bojang—accused of fatally shooting two police officers in Sukuta-Jabang in September 2023—entered a new phase.

The request for the recording was made by defence counsel Adama Sillah, representing Amie Bojang, the second accused in the case. Sillah told the court that certain responses provided by Sankareh during his cross-examination were ambiguous and needed to be verified through the original audio.

“My lord, I apply for the court to order West Coast Radio to produce the audio of the interview with Ebrima G. Sankareh,” Sillah said.

Justice Ebrima Jaiteh granted the request and directed the proprietor of West Coast Radio, Peter Gomez, to produce the audio in court.

In a separate development, the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the State’s earlier application for a stay of proceedings and an appeal lodged at the Court of Appeal. The defense raised no objection, and the court accepted the withdrawal.

Sankareh, who has served as the government’s spokesperson since 2018, appeared in court as the sixth defence witness and was cross-examined about statements he made during a radio interview following the shooting incident.

“You said in the interview that the first accused is responsible for the shooting at Sukuta-Jabang,” asked defense counsel Lamin J. Darboe.

“I never said that,” Sankareh replied. “I said the alleged shooter.”

When questioned about referring to a co-conspirator, he clarified, “I said ‘alleged co-conspirator.’”

Sankareh was also asked about claims that the accused had plotted to kill six police officers and had money in his possession. “I said the police told me they recovered money from the alleged shooter. I did not confirm the amount,” he said.

He told the court that his comments were based on preliminary reports from the police and that he later distanced himself from the case. “They were accurate at the time as preliminary information. After that, I excused myself from the matter and said nothing further.”

Sankareh explained that his absence from subsequent developments in the case was due to personal travel. “I was neither withdrawn nor excluded. I traveled to America two days after the incident and continued my vacation. By the time I returned, the case had already progressed.”

Asked whether the police confirmed the accuracy of his statements, Sankareh said, “The police held a press conference and confirmed that what I said came from them as part of the early stages of the investigation.”

Under further questioning by Adama Sillah, Sankareh said he granted only one interview on the matter and stood by his comments, adding, “I stand by what I said in that interview based on the information provided to me by the police.”

He also claimed to have verified the information. “Yes, as a trained journalist for over 40 years, I always verify and fact-check all the information given to me,” he said.

The defense asked whether his comments, particularly regarding President Adama Barrow’s public offer of one million dalasis for information leading to the suspect’s arrest, could have prejudiced the investigation. Sankareh disagreed. “I don’t think it prejudiced the investigation.”

When asked whether he had linked Ousainou Bojang to the Casamance rebels during the interview, Sankareh said he could not recall making such a statement.

The trial is set to continue tomorrow at the High Court in Banjul, with the continuation of Sankareh’s cross-examination.