PIU Commander Testifies to Authorising Tear Gas Use Against GALA Protesters at National Audit Office

GALA members Kemo Fatty, Omar Saibo Camara and Alieu Bah

The trial of three members of the GALA movement continued on Tuesday before Principal Magistrate Sallah Mbye, with testimony from a senior officer of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) who admitted authorising the use of tear gas during the incident in question.

ASP Landing Bojang, a Platoon Commander with over 20 years’ service in the PIU, appeared as the third prosecution witness (PW3). He recounted the events that led to the arrest of the activists at the National Audit Office (NAO) in September last year.

Proceedings briefly stalled at the outset due to the absence of the third accused, Omar Camara. Defence Counsel L.S. Camara apologised to the court, explaining that his client had suffered a vehicle breakdown while travelling from Wuli in the provinces.

“He planned to leave as early as 4:00 a.m., but unfortunately the vehicle broke down on the way, and he could not make it,” counsel told the court.

With no objection from the prosecution, led by Commissioner A. Sanneh, Principal Magistrate Mbye allowed the trial to proceed in the accused’s absence, noting that the charges before the court are misdemeanours.

In his testimony, ASP Bojang told the court that he was deployed to the National Audit Office on September 15, 2025, following intelligence that a group intended to hold a press conference without the required permit.

He said he arrived at the NAO with a team of 10 PIU officers and found the area crowded. According to the witness, he joined Superintendent Dawda Jallow in engaging the group for about ten minutes, during which they urged the crowd to disperse peacefully.

“It was a group of people, crowded, and they were all standing and shouting,” ASP Bojang testified.

When asked what followed after the negotiations failed, the witness stated: “That’s the time we used tear gas.”

ASP Bojang identified the first and second accused, Alieu Bah and Kemo Fatty, as members of the group present at the NAO on the day in question. However, he said he could not recognise the face of the third accused, Omar Camara, who was absent from court.

During cross-examination, Defence Counsel L.S. Camara drew attention to gaps in the witness’s direct involvement in the arrests.

ASP Bojang admitted that he did not personally arrest any of the accused, explaining that the arrests were carried out by “general duty” police officers after the deployment of tear gas. He further conceded that he did not know the exact time the arrests were made or the specific reasons why the three accused persons were selected for detention.

Under further questioning, ASP Bojang confirmed that the tear gas was deployed within the perimeter of the National Audit Office.

“Who gave the instruction for the tear gas to be thrown?” counsel asked.

“It was me,” ASP Bojang responded.

“Was it thrown inside the premises or outside the NAO?” counsel continued.

“Inside,” the witness replied.

With no further questions from the defence and no re-examination by the prosecution, ASP Bojang was discharged. Commissioner Sanneh informed the court that only one prosecution witness remains to testify.

Principal Magistrate Sallah Mbye adjourned the matter to Monday, February 16, 2026, at 2:15 p.m., for the testimony of the fourth prosecution witness (PW4).