Abdoulie Sanyang -Defendant
Former soldier Abdoulie Sanyang has been remanded in custody on an arson charge, with his case transferred to the High Court for trial. The decision was handed down today by Principal Magistrate Touray at the Kanifing Magistrate’s Court.
The ruling followed the prosecution’s argument that the magistrate’s court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter, noting that the arson charge carries a potential life sentence under Gambian law.
During proceedings, the Inspector General of Police was represented by Commissioner A. Sanneh, ACP M. Camara, and ASP A. Touray. The defence team representing Sanyang comprised Counsel Lamin J. Darboe and F. Conteh.
Sanyang faces four criminal charges:
- Count One: Arson (Section 283, Criminal Offences Act 2025)—Allegedly, in 2016 in Kanifing South, Sanyang participated in planning and setting fire to the National Bureau of the Alliance for Patriotic Re-orientation Construction (APRC).
- Count Two: Seditious Intention (Sections 48(2)(a) and 50(1)(a), Criminal Offences Act 2025)—Stemming from comments made on August 14, 2025, during the Coffee Time Show on West Coast Radio, the prosecution claims Sanyang intended to incite hatred or disaffection toward the President by alleging electoral malpractice during the 2021 presidential election.
- Count Three: Incitement to Violence (Section 58(1)(a), Criminal Offences Act 2025)—The prosecution alleges that Sanyang admitted to financially supporting the “3 Years Jotna Movement” for an illegal protest demanding the president’s resignation.
- Count Four: Offences Relating to Judicial Proceedings (Section 99(1)(i), Criminal Offences Act 2025)—Sanyang is accused of describing the ongoing court hearing of Ousainou Bojang as a “clandestine court,” purportedly to show disrespect to judicial proceedings.
Before the charges were formally read, ACP Camara invoked Section 72 of the Criminal Procedure Code, asserting that the magistrate’s court could not hear the arson charge because it is a capital offence. He requested that Sanyang be remanded under Section 125 and that the case be transferred to the High Court under Section 228 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
Commissioner Sanneh supported the application, noting that while three charges could fall under the magistrate’s jurisdiction, the arson charge could not, and the counts could not be separated. The defence counsel, Lamin J. Darboe, did not object to the application.
After reviewing the submissions, Principal Magistrate Touray granted the prosecution’s request, ordering that Sanyang be remanded at Mile 2 Central Prison pending trial at the High Court.
Following the ruling, Sanyang was escorted by officers from the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) to Mile 2 Central Prison, where he will remain in detention until his case is heard.