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 15 September 2023.
The request is part of the ongoing murder trial of Ousainou Bojang, accused of the fatal shooting of two police officers at the Sukuta-Jabang traffic post.
The directive followed an oral application by defence counsel Lamin J. Darboe, who argued the recordings were crucial to the case. The application was supported by Adama Sillah, lawyer for the second accused, Amie Bojang.
Director of Public Prosecutions A.M. Yusuf objected, insisting such requests should be made in writing.
However, Justice Jaiteh dismissed the objection, describing it as a mere “technical barrier” and stressing that 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,” he ruled.
The court reaffirmed the defence’s constitutional right to access evidence, citing Section 221 of the Evidence Act and Section 24(3)(e) of the 1997 Constitution.
The recordings are to be produced by the next hearing on 30 June 2025.
Audio recording from government spokesperson submitted
Earlier in the session, West Coast Radio submitted an audio recording of a 14 September 2023 interview with government spokesperson Ebrima G. Sankareh. The clip, marked as Exhibit DD3, was played in court.
In the interview, Sankareh said President Barrow had confirmed Bojang’s arrest and extradition from Senegal. He also mentioned the recovery of a weapon and money linked to the crime, and said CCTV footage connected Bojang to the shooting.
During cross-examination, Sankareh admitted relying on police sources and said he had only seen a photo on social media, not the CCTV footage itself.
“This case was unprecedented in Gambian history.
These were not ordinary people but police officers,” Sankareh told the court.
He denied disclosing political affiliations of the accused and defended his role: “I disagree; I’m the boss of the police PRO.”
Testimony from Deputy Inspector General of Police
Deputy Inspector General of Police Momodou Sowe also took the stand. He confirmed a press briefing took place on 15 September 2023 but testified that he did not mention Ousainou Bojang by name.
He had no personal knowledge of phone records, the murder weapon, or a reported bounty.
He said he could not recall whether the briefing was recorded or which media houses were present.
The trial continues on 30 June 2025.
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