By Admin
Justice Ebrima Jaiteh has admitted record books, deposit receipts, and bank books belonging to Ousainou Bojang into evidence as his trial continues.
Bojang stands accused of the 2023 fatal shooting of two officers of the Gambia Police Force. The prosecution alleges that on September 12, 2023, at the Sukuta traffic lights, he shot three officers, killing two and critically injuring the third. His sister, Amie Bojang, is also facing charges as an accessory after the fact. Both have denied all allegations.
During the latest court session, the prosecution was represented by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) A.M. Yusuf, while Senior Counsel Lamin J. Darboe defended the first accused, and Counsel O. Sillah represented the second accused.
Under examination by Counsel Darboe, Bojang confirmed that police had seized several personal items from his residence, including a black jacket, a shirt, a pair of white shoes, record books, bank books (from Agib and Access Bank), and multiple receipts.When asked if he could identify these items, Bojang responded affirmatively, particularly highlighting the bank books, which contained transaction records involving sums of D10,000, D20,000, and D9,000 linked to an account belonging to a woman he identified as “Claudette.”
“Would you be able to recognize the items if shown to you?” Counsel Darboe inquired.
“Yes, I would be able to recognize them,” Ousainou replied.
Counsel Darboe presented three receipts—D9,000, D10,000, and D20,000—for Bojang’s review. After confirming their authenticity, Darboe requested their admission into evidence. With no objection from the prosecution, Justice Jaiteh admitted them as evidence D23.
“You also talk about bank books in your name, and those bank books are Agib and Access Bank books,”? Counsel J Darboe asked
“Yes,” Ousainou answered.
Bojang was then handed his Agib Bank savings book, which he verified as his own. Following Darboe’s application and the prosecution’s lack of objection, Justice Jaiteh admitted the book as evidence D24. Similarly, Bojang confirmed ownership of his Access Bank savings book, which was also admitted as evidence D25.
“You told the court that you managed a property on behalf of Claudette (the white lady),” Counsel Darboe asked.
Ousainou affirmed that, stating that he managed a property on her behalf.
“Do you have that on record?” Counsel Darboe inquired.
Ousainou explained that he maintains records of property management in a book and has two such books. One of them includes a receipt for a router he purchased from Qcell.
Counsel Darboe presented both books to Ousainou for verification. After reviewing them, Ousainou confirmed that they contained his receipts and records. Counsel Darboe then requested that the books be admitted into evidence. With no objection from the Director of Public Prosecution, Justice Jaiteh accepted them as evidence, marking them as D26 A and B, respectively.
“You mentioned a receipt for a Qcell router. Whose name is on that receipt?” Counsel Darboe asked.
“The receipt for the router is in my name,” Ousainou replied.
“Do you remember the amount on the receipt?” Counsel Darboe further inquired.
“I can’t remember, but it’s likely 3,000,” Ousainou stated.
Counsel Darboe handed the receipt to Ousainou for verification. After reviewing it, Ousainou confirmed its authenticity. Counsel Darboe then requested that the Qcell router receipt be admitted into evidence. With no objection from the Director of Public Prosecution, the presiding judge, Justice Jaiteh, granted the application and marked the receipt and its related documents as evidence, labelled D27.
“You also mentioned a black jacket, a shirt, a pair of white shoes, and a receipt for 20,000,” Counsel Darboe said.
“Yes,” Ousainou confirmed.
Counsel J. Darboe informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had misplaced the 20,000 receipts after receiving them as part of the prosecution’s required disclosures. However, the DPP failed to return the receipts, which are essential for the prosecution to present as evidence.
As a result, Counsel J. Darboe requested an adjournment to allow the DPP time to provide the receipts so they could be submitted into evidence. The court granted the request, adjourning the case to the following day for the continuation of Ousainou Bojang’s testimony. Counsel Darboe assured the court that he would need only 10 minutes to complete Ousainou’s evidence-in-chief.