State Drops Conspiracy Charges in Case Against Former Officer Sanna Manjang

The prosecution in the criminal case against former military officer Sanna Manjang has withdrawn all conspiracy charges, narrowing its case to four counts related to alleged acts of violence, according to a further amended indictment filed in court.

The revision follows a ruling by Justice Sidi K. Jobarteh, who directed the state to provide specific details about the alleged co-conspirators referenced in earlier charges or clarify the identities of the unnamed “others” said to have been involved. Rather than amend the charges to include those particulars, prosecutors elected to remove the conspiracy counts altogether.

The updated indictment now includes two counts of murder and two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm.

The decision comes after defense counsel Sheriff K. Jobe successfully argued that the original conspiracy allegations—which claimed that Mr. Manjang acted “with others” as part of the group known as the “Junglers”—were too vague to allow for an adequate defense. Justice Jobarteh agreed, ruling that the lack of specificity undermined the accused’s ability to respond meaningfully to the charges.

The state, represented by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions E.R. Dougan, has instead refocused its case on the defendant’s alleged direct involvement in the offenses.

According to the amended filing, the charges are as follows:

Count 1: Murder of Kajali Jammeh
Prosecutors allege that in 2006, in Kanilai in the West Coast Region, Mr. Manjang unlawfully caused the death of Kajali Jammeh, also known as “Le Cock,” by cutting his neck with a knife, acting with malice aforethought.

Count 2: Murder of Samba Wurry
In a separate count from the same year and location, the state alleges that Mr. Manjang fatally stabbed Samba Wurry in the chest.

Count 3: Assault on Tamsir Jasseh
Mr. Manjang is accused of assault causing actual bodily harm in March 2006 at the National Intelligence Agency premises, where he allegedly beat and kicked Tamsir Jasseh.

Count 4: Assault on Yaya M.S. Darboe
The final count alleges a series of acts against military officer Yaya M.S. Darboe, including beatings with sticks, the application of melted plastic to his body, and being tied in a sack and suspended.

The case is expected to proceed with formal plea-taking on the remaining counts. The removal of the conspiracy charges significantly narrows the scope of the prosecution’s case, focusing on the defendant’s alleged individual conduct.