“My Client Was Drugged, Beaten, Did Not Voluntarily Give Statements,” Asserts Counsel LJ Darboe in Court
By Landing Ceesay
Counsel Lamin J. Darboe, representing Ousainou Bojang, the alleged perpetrator in the deaths of two Police Intervention Unit (PIU) Officers, informed the court that his client’s statements were obtained under duress through drugging and physical abuse.
The revelation came shortly after the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) AM Yusuf sought to submit the cautionary statements obtained from Ousainou Bojang on September 13th, 14th, and 15th, 2023.
“I am objecting to all these statements. My lord, they are confessional statements, and they were not made voluntarily by the 1st accused. They did not meet the requirement of admissibility,” Counsel LJ Darboe told the court.
Continuing his testimony, the Sixth Prosecution Witness (PW6), Police Investigator Ebou Sowe, stated that he had obtained multiple cautionary and voluntary statements from Ousainou Bojang (1st accused).
“Apart from the cautionary statement, I also obtain voluntary statements which include murder charges. I was instructed to take statements of the counts. For the murder charges, there are four voluntary statements. For grievous body harm, 3 statements, for the prohibition of Acts of Terrorism 6 statements,” Mr. Sowe told the court,” Mr. Sowe said.
Mr. Sowe further detailed that an independent witness named Alieu Cham was present during the statement-taking process, and each charge was recorded in the presence of the same independent witness.
“The accused was reminded of his rights and self-incrimination. The statements were read to the accused, which he confirmed. I translated the recorded version in Wolof. In each charge, he made his plea, and he thumbed printed it. The independent witness was present to witness it. I endorsed it as the one who administered it with my initials. This procedure was maintained throughout the entire process,” Mr. Sowe testified.
State Lawyer AM Yusuf questioned Mr. Sowe on whether he would recognize the cautionary statements obtained on September 13th, 14th, and 15th, 2023, from Ousainou Bojang (1st accused). Mr. Sowe positively confirmed, and the documents were identified by him as the statements he obtained from Ousainou Bojang.
State Lawyer AM Yusuf then sought to tender the documents into evidence as Prosecution exhibits. However, Counsel LJ Darboe objected to the admissibility of the documents, citing a violation of section 31 (2) of the Evidence Act 1994.
Counsel LJ Darboe called for a voir dire (trial within trial) to investigate the allegations that his client was drugged and beaten to give statements.
“I am objecting to all these statements. My lord, they are confessional statements, and they were not made voluntarily by the 1st accused. They did not meet the requirement of admissibility. These statements are not admissible because they are not made voluntarily by the 1st accused. The accused person was being drugged by the Police Anti Crime Unit. He was also beaten. There was also no independent witness,” he said.
Counsel Lamin K. Mboge, the lawyer for Amie Bojang (2nd accused), also contested the admissibility of the documents, pointing out an alleged incompleteness in the statement dated September 15th.
“The prosecution has not furnished the court with complete statements of the 15th September, which is also sought to be tendered. There is no signature of the independent witness on this paper. The statement dated the 15th is incomplete. The requirement of an independent witness has not been fulfilled. All that is on the document is a mere thump print without any name of the independent witness on it,” Counsel LK Mboge.
In response to the objections raised by the defense, State Lawyer AM Yusuf did not oppose the call for a voir dire (trial within trial) to investigate the allegations.
In delivering his ruling on the matter, Hon. Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the High Court of The Gambia granted the voir dire (trial within trial) requested by Counsel LJ Darboe. Hon. Justice Jaiteh then suspended the main trial and ordered the commencement of the voir dire (trial within trial).
However, State Lawyer AM Yusuf applied for an adjournment, citing exhaustion among the people in the courtroom. Hon. Justice Jaiteh granted the adjournment, rescheduling the matter for today to begin the voir dire (trial within trial) to determine the allegations of Ousainou Bojang being drugged and beaten.
Background of the Case
On September 21, 2023, Ousainou and Amie Bojang made their initial appearance before Principal Magistrate Omar Jabang of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, facing charges related to the shooting incident at Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights, which resulted in the tragic deaths of two PIU officers and severe injury to another on September 12, 2023.
The police had initially levelled four charges against the accused, including two murder charges, an act of terrorism charge, and an accessory after the fact to murder charge. Subsequently, Principal Magistrate Omar Jabang transferred the murder trial to the Special Criminal Division of the High Court of The Gambia.
On October 12, 2023, the case was presented before Hon. Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the High Court of The Gambia.
On October 19, 2023, the State brought six charges against Ousainou Bojang, the prime suspect in the deaths of two Police Intervention Unit (PIU) officers, and a single charge against his elder sister, Amie Bojang.
On October 24, 2023, both Ousainou Bojang and Amie Bojang entered pleas of not guilty to the charges.