By Landing Ceesay
In a legal development, the Office of the Attorney General, represented by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), has lodged six charges against Ousainou Bojang, the prime suspect in the killings of two Police Intervention Unit (PIU) officers. These charges encompass murder, acts of terrorism, and others. Additionally, a single charge has been leveled against Amie Bojang, the elder sibling of Ousainou Bojang.
1. Count One: Murder: (in violation of Section 187 of the Criminal Code):
The State alleges that on September 12, 2023, at Sukuta in the West Coast Region of the Republic of The Gambia, Ousainou Bojang, with premeditation, fatally shot Police Constable Sang J. Gomez, thereby committing murder.
2. Count Two: Murder: (in violation of Section 187 of the Criminal Code):
The State contends that on September 12, 2023, at Sukuta in the West Coast Region of The Gambia, Ousainou Bojang, with premeditation, caused the death of Police Constable Pateh Jallow by shooting him, constituting murder.
3. Count Three: Prohibition of Acts of Terrorism: (in violation of Section 3(1)(a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act):
Ousainou Bojang is accused of attacking Police Constable Pateh Jallow and Police Constable Sang J. Gomez on September 12, 2023, at Sukuta. This attack, involving the use of a firearm, resulted in their deaths and is considered an act of terrorism.
4. Count Four: Attempt to Murder: (in violation of Section 200 of the Criminal Code):
On September 12, 2023, at Sukuta in the West Coast Region of The Gambia, Ousainou Bojang allegedly attempted to unlawfully cause the death of Police Constable Ansey Jawo by shooting her, an offense under Section 200 of the Criminal Code.
5. Count Five: Grievous Bodily Harm: (in violation of Section 214 of the Criminal Code):
Ousainou Bojang is further accused of unlawfully shooting Police Constable Ansey Jawo on September 12, 2023, in Sukuta Kombo North, causing her grievous bodily harm, a violation of Section 214 of the Criminal Code.
6. Count Six: Accessory After the Fact to Murder: (in violation of Section 202 of the Criminal Code):
The State alleges that Amie Bojang, on September 13, 2023, at Brufut Kombo South and various other locations in The Gambia, aided Ousainou Bojang, who was known to have committed murder, in escaping the country to avoid punishment. This constitutes an offense under Section 202 of the Criminal Code.
Background of the Case:
On September 21, 2023, Ousainou and Amie Bojang made their first appearance before Principal Magistrate Omar Jabang of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, facing charges stemming from the shooting incident at Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights, which resulted in the tragic deaths of two PIU officers and severe injury to another. The incident occurred on September 12, 2023.
Initially, the police had filed four charges against the accused, including two murder charges, an act of terrorism charge, and an accessory after the fact to murder charge. Subsequently, Principal Magistrate Omar Jabang transferred the murder trial to the Special Criminal Division of the High Court of The Gambia.
On October 12, 2023, the case was brought before Hon. Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the High Court of The Gambia. The DPP informed the court that the case had been transferred from the Magistrates’ Court, and there was no official bill of indictment against the accused individuals currently before the court. The DPP requested additional time to file an indictment against the accused persons. On October 20, 2023, the State formally filed six charges against the accused before the High Court of The Gambia.