On Sept. 12, 2023, gunshots were heard at Sukuta-Jabang traffic light, a busy intersection, at around 7 to 8 pm, leading to the death of two police intervention unit (PIU) officers, Police Constable Pateh Jallow and Police Constable Sang Gomez, while Ancy Jawo sustained injuries.
The alleged assailant was not arrested and had escaped from the scene. Immediately the news broke, social media was inundated with messages.
A day later, President Adama Barrow offered a bounty of D1 million for anyone with information about the suspected killer. Ousainou Bojang, a security guard from Brufut, was identified by the state as the primary suspect.
He was arrested in Casamance, Senegal, after a tip-off. His sister, Amie Bojang, was also charged as an accessory for allegedly aiding his flight.
Bojang was charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, one count of an act of terrorism, and one count of causing grievous bodily harm, while his sister, Amie Bojang, was charged as an accessory after the fact to murder.
The Trial: Legal contentions
Ousainou Bojang and his sister, Amie Bojang, were tried for the September 2023 killing of two police officers at the Sukuta-Jabang traffic lights. The trial, which lasted two years and six months, centred on several critical points of law and evidence:
While they were tried, the High Court acquitted them of all charges on March 30, 2026. However, the case remains active due to a state appeal and subsequent legal manoeuvres regarding their detention.
Identification and forensic evidence
The prosecution relied on eyewitness accounts and a firearm recovered near the scene, while the defence countered that the prosecution failed to provide a definitive forensic link (such as DNA or fingerprints) connecting Ousainou to the weapon or the crime scene.
The Alibi:
A major pillar of the defence was an alibi. Witnesses testified that Ousainou was at his place of work in Brufut at the time the shots were fired.
The “Trial Within a Trial”:
The defence was led by Senior Counsel Lamin J. Darbo, who challenged the admissibility of Bojang’s cautionary statements, alleging they were extracted through torture or duress. The court ultimately scrutinised these statements for voluntariness.
The Verdict (March 30, 2026)
On Monday, March 30, 2026, Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the Banjul High Court delivered a 130-page judgment leading to the siblings’ acquittal.
The court presided by Justice Ebrima Jaiteh ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the charges of murder, terrorism, and attempted murder beyond a reasonable doubt.
Reasoning:
Our reporter was at the court in Banjul, where the presiding judge, Justice Jaiteh, cited inconsistencies in prosecution witness testimonies and the strength of the defence’s alibi. Both Ousainou and Amie Bojang were acquitted and discharged on all counts.
Post-Verdict Developments:
The trial’s resolution was followed by immediate legal and civil unrest. The Attorney General’s Chambers and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) immediately filed an appeal, expressing dissatisfaction with the court’s evaluation of the evidence.
Re-arrest and controversy
On March 31, Justice Jaiteh granted the pair bail of D50,000 pending the determination of the state’s appeal, noting that the state had no compelling reason to continue their detention after an acquittal.
However, on April 1, 2026, despite the court’s order for their release, Ousainou and Amie Bojang were reportedly re-arrested by the Gambia Police Force immediately after stepping out of the prison.
They were taken to the Police Headquarters in Banjul and later returned to the prison. This move sparked protests in Brufut, the neighbourhood of the siblings, where residents demanded their unconditional release, leading to clashes with police and the use of tear gas.
Eight groups have also called for the resignation of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dawda Jallow, and the Inspector General of Police, Seedy Mukhtar Touray, criticising their attempts to disregard the court’s judgment. The Gambia BAR association also criticised the state’s decision to re-arrest the Bojang siblings.
Hours after the protest, which was rapidly gaining momentum, the police released a statement announcing that the state had released the pairs.
President Barrow broke the silence
Since the incident, President Barrow has only mentioned it in a few public statements, and these came after public outcry.
However, speaking at a meeting in Somita, a settlement in Foni, on April 2nd, Barrow broke the silence following the acquittal and discharge of Ousainou Bojang and his sister Amie Bojang.
President Barrow said his government firmly dismissed the verdict and believed that Ousainou Bojang was the killer of the officers.
“My government dismissed the Judge’s judgment and believes that Ousainou Bojang is the killer of the police,” he claimed. “The judge made a mistake. We respect his decision, but we will appeal the judgment.”
Conclusion
While Ousainou Bojang and his sister, Amie Bojang, have been legally cleared by the High Court, the case is far from over. The state’s pursuit of an appeal and the ongoing friction between the executive branch (police) and the judiciary regarding the siblings’ freedom have made this case a focal point for discussions on the rule of law and judicial independence in The Gambia.