Woman Arraigned Under New Criminal Offences Act for Allegedly Insulting the President

A Gavel

Mariama Naba Darboe appeared before the Brusubi Magistrates’ Court, charged with insulting the President under the recently enacted Criminal Offences Act 2025. The charge, brought under Section 107(2) of the Act, accuses her of “giving false information and parental insult to public officers.”

The prosecution alleges that on July 5, 2025, at Tanji Kombo South, Darboe directed a “parental insult” towards the President, reportedly stating, “He is a motherfucker.” The new law prohibits such insults against the President, Vice President, ministers, members of the National Assembly, and civil servants.

Assistant Superintendent of Police O. Bobb represented the Inspector General of Police, while Counsel F. Conteh appeared on behalf of the accused.

Upon reading the charge in court, Mariama Naba Darboe pleaded not guilty in the Mandinka language.

ASP Bobb requested an adjournment to call the prosecution’s first witness and stated that while they are not opposed to bail, they seek the court’s order for the accused to deposit her travel documents.

Counsel Conteh argued that the bail condition requiring the surrender of travel documents was excessive given the nature of the misdemeanor charge, as opposed to a felony.

Magistrate Jallow ruled that the offense is bailable and exercised the court’s discretion to grant bail. The conditions set include a bail sum of D50,000, two Gambian sureties who must provide affidavits of means and the surrender of all travel documents to the court.

The case has been adjourned to July 9 and 10 for further proceedings.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that the incident occurred while Darboe was traveling by vehicle to Sanyang on Saturday. Frustrated by a traffic delay, she allegedly insulted the president, expressing anger over the “motherfucking delay,” which was subsequently reported to the Sanyang police by another passenger in the vehicle.