Ebrima G. Sankareh, Government Spokesman
In the ongoing murder trial involving Ousainou and Amie Bojang, the court on Tuesday heard further evidence in the form of a court-ordered audio recording submitted by Therese Fatou Gomez, daughter of renowned Gambian journalist Peter Gomez.
Therese Fatou Gomez, Chief Executive Officer and Program Controller of West Coast Radio, appeared before Justice Jaiteh to deliver the recording—a radio interview with government spokesperson Ebrima G. Sankareh on the “Coffee Time Show.” The audio had been requested by defense counsel Adama Sillah during cross-examination.
The hearing, presided over by Justice Jaiteh, saw representation from the state by A.M. Yusuf, with Counsel L.J. Darboe and Adama Sillah representing the accused. Justice Jaiteh resumed proceedings following the previous day’s session.
Upon being called, Ms. Gomez confirmed possession of the recording and produced a flash drive containing the audio, which the court admitted as Exhibit DD3. The recording was then played aloud for all parties present.
Counsel Sillah resumed his questioning of Mr. Sankareh, challenging the government spokesperson’s statements during the broadcast. The line of questioning focused on the details provided in the interview concerning suspects allegedly involved in the police shooting.
Mr. Sankareh acknowledged that one suspect, Ousainou Bojang, had been arrested, but indicated that there were reports of multiple arrests. He also denied statements attributed to him by Counsel Sillah regarding the existence of co-conspirators, insisting on precise language and rejecting paraphrasing.
The exchange became contentious when the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) intervened to caution that questions must not distort the witness’s words. Counsel Sillah continued to probe the nature of intelligence shared with Mr. Sankareh, including allegations of surveillance on police stations and bounties offered for information about the attacker.
The witness confirmed receiving information about possible attacks on police personnel and the bounty but said he did not follow up on the money’s disposition. He maintained that as the government spokesperson, he had the authority to communicate on such matters, despite the existence of a police public relations officer.
Counsel Sillah pressed on the appropriateness of Mr. Sankareh’s role in communicating details of the investigation, while Mr. Sankareh asserted his position as the superior of the police PRO.
The cross-examination also addressed discrepancies over whether Mr. Sankareh had identified the accused as affiliated with a political party—a claim the witness denied, attributing such assertions to misunderstandings or misinformation.
Further questions covered specific details mentioned in the audio, including the recovery of a vehicle linked to the shooting and the presence of CCTV footage. Mr. Sankareh clarified that he had seen a photograph circulated on social media, rather than video evidence.
Counsel Sillah concluded his examination after extensively scrutinizing the government spokesperson’s statements and the source verification process. With no further questions from the prosecution or the defense, Justice Jaiteh discharged Mr. Sankareh.
The trial will continue as the court examines additional evidence related to the fatal police shooting that has captivated public attention in The Gambia.
We reproduced below the cross examination verbatim
“We have just listened to an altered audio with Peter. So, can you tell the court how many suspects were arrested?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“One suspect was arrested at Jululung, identified as Ousainou Bojang, but I was told that some were arrested,” Ebrima G. Sankareh replied.
Counsel Sillah continued, “At the time you made the interview, you said there were allegedly co-conspirators as per the information you gathered.””I did not say that, you cannot use language to cage me, what I said was half a dozen. You are using language, and language is my specialty. If you say something that is not representative of what I said, it is horrendous,” Sankareh retorted.
“We are on cross-examination and I will ask questions inconvenient to you,” Counsel Sillah stated.
At this point, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) interjected, saying, “I know this is a cross-examination but the assertion is wrong. He can ask a question but not paraphrase it.”
Counsel Sillah then asked, “Were there co-conspirators that were assembled in a mosque at the time of the interview?”
“Regarding the surveillance, was this information also given to you as evidence by the police? Were you given the information allegedly surveilled on the police stations/paramilitary post?” Counsel Sillah pressed.
“Yes, I was given the information that the attacker was on a surveil on police stations,” Sankareh confirmed.
“So, were you given the information that a dozen of police officers were to be killed?” Sillah inquired.
“There is a probability that more than six people,” Sankareh responded.
“There was a one million dalasis bounty, whoever could disclose the whereabouts of the killer. Did the person who disclosed receive the money?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“I don’t know. I didn’t follow up the trajectory of the money. I was given the information and I communicated it,” Sankareh replied.
“So, who should give the information about a murder case?” Sillah questioned.
“Every agency of the state can do so, and as the government spokesperson I can give the information,” Sankareh stated.
“Did the police not have a PRO who can relay information to the public?” Sillah further asked.
“Yes, they have,” Sankareh affirmed.
“Throughout history, have you ever seen a Government spokesperson served as a PRO?” Counsel Sillah challenged.
“That has nothing to do with the subject matter. Asking him that question is very offensive,” the DPP intervened.
“The question is material and is still premised on the subject matter,” Counsel Sillah argued.
“As a Government spokesperson, how many murder cases are reported in The Gambia by the IGP?” Counsel Sillah inquired.
“No, I don’t know,” Sankareh replied.
“All the murder cases. Have you ever made press any press briefing regarding other murder cases?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“I may have, but here I never made a press briefing, I made a radio interview,” Sankareh clarified.
“So, what is so special about the case that made you go out and have an interview about it?” Counsel Sillah probed.
“Like I said on the interview that the case is unprecedented in The Gambia’s history, and these are not ordinary people but police officers,” Sankareh explained.
“Was there anywhere that you allegedly made mention of my client during the interview?” Sillah asked.
“I only know of one alleged killer and I just knew of your client yesterday in court,” Sankareh stated.
“Do you know that the information you gave on West Coast Radio is the same thing before the court?” Counsel Sillah questioned.
“I don’t know,” Sankareh responded.
“Now, which one do you want to stick by, the interview at the radio or the event of the court session?” Counsel Sillah pressed.
The Director of Public Prosecution objected, and the question was overruled.
“Mr. Sankareh, in the audio, it was stated that there was a vehicle. Did you recover the vehicle?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“No,” Sankareh replied.
“Did you know/recognize the color of the vehicle?” Sillah asked.
“No,” Sankareh responded.
“Did you recognize the vehicle?” Counsel Sillah pressed.
“No,” Sankareh said.
“You said the accused person was a member of the UDP,” Counsel Sillah stated.
“I never mentioned political party. I never said that alleged shooter is a member of the UDP. I said allegedly he was a security officer of the Brikama Area Council. Yesterday I listened to audio and nowhere I mentioned UDP, and this pains me, people creating their own words,” Sankareh clarified.
“Counsel Sillah needs to be careful and caution, especially mentioning political parties,” the DPP argued.
“Our duty is to the court and not to any political party and my question has nothing to do with any political parties,” Counsel Adama Sillah responded.
“In the audio, references were made that they hired a lodge. Do you know the lodge they were residing at?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“No,” Sankareh replied.
“You mentioned a CCTV footage. Did you see the alleged shooter in the video wearing a hoodie?” Sillah inquired.
“I didn’t say I saw a footage, I saw a picture that showed the alleged shooter in a hoodie, which was all over social media,” Sankareh explained.
“How did you verify the information given to you by the police?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“Yes, I know and I have done that by verifying and re-verified, and that was information available at that time,” Sankareh stated.
“You know that as a Presidential adviser, you should verify first. How do you verify?” Counsel Sillah pressed.
“I’m at liberty to talk to anyone working in the government, and what I said during the interview was presented to me at the time during the investigations,” Sankareh responded.
“I’m putting to you that you have gone beyond your boundaries, going into the police duty giving comments about a murder case, which is the duty of the PRO,” Counsel Sillah asserted.
“I disagree, I’m the boss of the PRO,” Sankareh countered.
“Is Ousainou Bojang with a female companion?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“No, I don’t know,” Sankareh replied.
Counsel Adama Sillah concluded his cross-examination. With no further questions from the Director of Public Prosecution and no re-examination from defense counsel Lamin J. Darboe, government spokesperson Ebrima G. Sankareh was discharged.