Lawyers Say They Were Denied Access to Client Held at Banjulinding Anti-Crime Unit

By Staff Writer

Lawyers representing Muhammed Reni, a businessman and associate of politician Kebba Madi, say police officers at the Banjul Anti-Crime Unit prevented them from meeting with their detained client for more than 45 minutes, raising concerns about what they described as a violation of his constitutional right to legal representation.

Mr. Reni is being detained in connection with allegations that he purchased vehicles and motorcycles to support Mr. Madi’s political activities, according to information obtained by Kexx News.

His lawyers, L.S. Camara and K. Jallow, said they went to the Anti-Crime Unit shortly after learning of his arrest and identified themselves to officers at the gate as Mr. Reni’s legal representatives. They said they were instructed to wait while officers contacted a senior official.

Mr. Camara told Kexx News that he was later informed he would need authorization from Superintendent Lamin Cham before he could meet with his client. When informed that Superintendent Cham was not at the facility, Mr. Camara said officers later told him he would instead have to obtain clearance from another officer identified as Pa Alieu Jawara.

Despite the change in instructions, Mr. Camara said he remained unable to see his client after waiting for more than 45 minutes.

“I have waited for more than 45 minutes without access to my client,” Mr. Camara told Kexx News. “This is a denial of my client’s constitutional right to his counsel.”

Section 24(3)(e) of The Gambia’s 1997 Constitution guarantees every person who is arrested or detained the right to communicate with and be visited by a legal practitioner of his or her choice.

Kexx News reported that it contacted the Gambia Police Force’s public relations officer for comment. The spokesperson said he was on patrol in Barra and would respond after making inquiries into the matter.

The police had not issued a substantive response by the time of publication.