Alleged armed robber -photo Kexx.
The Gambia Police Force has arraigned a suspected armed robber before Principal Magistrate Krubally at the Banjul Magistrate Court and sought a bench warrant for the arrest of three others still at large. The suspects face charges of conspiracy and robbery.
The case stems from an incident on March 22, 2025, when five armed men attempted to rob a shop in Ballanghar Kerr Nderry, Central River Region (CRR). Villagers confronted the assailants, prompting a local hunter to open fire. Two suspects were shot—one later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital and was identified as Yerro Sikh Sowe, a Senegalese national, while another sustained injuries. The remaining three suspects managed to escape.
The individuals implicated in the case are:
- Amadou Bah (1st accused, Senegalese national)—in custody
- Saidou Sowe (2nd accused, Senegalese national)—at large
- Mamadou Bah (3rd accused, Senegalese national)—at large
- Def Sowe (4th accused, Senegalese national)—at large
- Yerro Sikh Sowe (5th accused, Senegalese national) – deceased
During court proceedings, the prosecution team, led by Deputy Commissioner M. Jarju, alongside ASP Sarr, Cpl 7048 A.Y. Bojang, and Inspector Saidykhan, applied to transfer the case to the Special Criminal Division of the High Court. The application was made under Section 62 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and Legal Notice No. 3 of 2009, which stipulate that murder and other capital offences must be tried in the Special Criminal Court.
Additionally, Deputy Commissioner Jarju requested that the first accused, Amadou Bah, be remanded at Mile 2 Central Prison under Section 208A of the CPC, pending his appearance before the High Court. He also sought bench warrants for the arrest of the three fugitives.”We apply for a bench warrant against the 2nd accused, Saidou Sowe, 3rd accused, Mamadou Bah, and the 4th accused, Def Sowe to be arrested,” Deputy Commissioner M. Jarju stated.
In response, Principal Magistrate Krubally granted the prosecution’s applications, noting that robbery with violence carries a life sentence and falls outside the jurisdiction of his court. Citing Sections 62 and 208A of the Criminal Code, he ordered the immediate transmission of court records to the Special Criminal Division of the High Court.
“I grant the application for a bench warrant be issued against the 2nd accused Saidou Sowe, 3rd accused Mamodou Bah and 4th accused Def Sowe to be arrested,” Magistrate Krubally ruled.
The magistrate further ordered that the court records be immediately sent to the High Court’s Special Criminal Division. Amadou Bah will remain in custody at Mile Central Prison until his case is heard by the High Court, while the police will pursue the remaining suspects based on the bench warrants.