“I Am A Young Man And I Have A Very Young Family” – Ex-director Of Operations At NIA Appeals For Mercy

By Buba Gagigo

Sheikh Omar Jeng, ex-director of operations (3^rd accused person) in the 9 Intelligence Officers case (NIA 9) at High Court in Banjul on Wednesday appealed for mercy in his plea of mitigation before his sentencing to death.

“I am a young man and I have a very young family. A lot of people depend on me and I am the breadwinner of my family. I am very remorseful and if yesterday (his days at NIA) were to be today, I would have acted differently. It is not an excuse but I didn’t have the confidence and courage to say no, when I was supposed to say no, and I am not ashamed of it,” the ex-director of operations at the agency said in his plea of mitigation before Justice Kumba Sillah-Camara.

Yesterday, Sheikh Omar Jeng, the ex-director of operations (3rd accused) with his colleagues Yankuba Badjie, ex-director of the NIA (1st accused); Baboucarr Sallah (4th accused); Tamba Masarreh (7th accused); and Lamin Darboe (8th accused) are sentenced to death for the murder of Solo Sandeng in April 2016.

Similarly, Lamin Lang Sanyang, ex NIA medic is sentenced to 10-years in prison for making documents without authority and five years for forging the death certificate of the late Solo Sandeng.

However, Louis Gomez, ex-deputy director of the said agency (2nd accused) died in the course of the trial while in the custody of the State; and Yusupha Jammeh, (5th accused person) was acquitted by the Court before the end of the trial upon the State’s application for his acquittal for lack of evidence to continue prosecuting him; and Haruna Suso (6th accused person) is discharged and acquitted on all counts and he shall be released.

The accused persons in the case were Yankuba Badjie, ex-director of the NIA (1^st accused); Louis Gomez, ex-deputy director of the said agency (2^nd accused); Sheikh Omar Jeng, ex-director of operations (3^rd accused person); Baboucar Sallah (4^th accused person);  Yusupha Jammeh (5^th accused); Haruna Susso (6^th accused); Tamba Masireh (7^th accused); Lamin Darboe (8^th accused); and Lamin Lang Sanyang (9^th accused).

The prosecution team is headed by Lawyer Antouman A.B. Gaye and the other lawyers in the team were Rachel Y. Mendy, Lamin S. Camara, Yassin Senghore and Combeh Gaye.