By: Isatou Sarr
Abdoulie Sanyang, a former soldier with the Gambia Armed Forces Thursday appeared before the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court charged with various counts of arson, sedition, among others.
It would be recalled that Sanyang was arrested by the Police following his interview with West Coast Radio in which he made several claims that landed him into trouble.
During his first court appearance on Thursday, Commissioner Sanneh with Assistant Commissioner M. Camara represented the Inspector General of Police while Counsel L.J Darboe represented the accused person.
Before reading the charge sheet, the prosecution made submission to the court saying that in Pursuant to Section 72 Criminal Procedure for the matter to be transferred to the High Court because one of the counts the accused is charged with warrants life imprisonment and as such the Kanifing Magistrate Court lacks the jurisdiction. He says since one of the charges is a capital offense and is not bailable, he further tells the court that in Section 125 of Criminal Procedure the charge is unbailable and they are also applying for remanding of the accused in prison pending trial by the High Court Pursuant to Section 228 in Criminal Procedure.
Defense Counsel L.J Darboe made no objection to the application made by the prosecution.
Magistrate Touray, the magistrate presiding, granted the prosecution’s application to transfer the case to the High Court and the accused Sayang to be remanded at mile 2 Central Prison.
According to the charge sheet; on count one, “arson” contrary to Section 283 of the Criminal Offences Act 2025. Abdoulie Sanyang sometime in the year 2016 at Kanifing South willfully and unlawfully took part in the planning and setting on fire the National Bureau of the Alliance for Patriotic Re-orientation Construction (APRC), thereby committed an offence.
On count two; “seditious intention” contrary to Section 48 sub (2) (a) and punishable under Section 50 sub (1)(a) of the Criminal Offences Act 2025. Abdoulie Sanyang on or about the 14th day of August, 2025 at West Coast Radio, in Kotu in the Kanifing Municipality, intent to bring into hatred, contempt or disaffection against the person of the President of The Republic of The Gambia, made comments at West Coast Radio Coffee Time Show that His Excellency the President was deeply involved in electoral malpractices in the 2021 Presidential elections, thereby committed an offence.
Similarly, on count three, “incitement to violence” contrary to Section 58 Sub (1) (a) of the Criminal Offences Act 2025. Abdoulie Sanyang on or about the 14th day of August 2025, at West Coast Radio, Kotu in the Kanifing Municipality, claimed on West Coast Radio Coffee Time Show, that “you gave financial support to the “3 YEARS JOTNA MOVEMENT” to embark on an illegal protest, requesting that His Excellency, the President to step down from Office, thereby committed an offence.
Count four, “offences relating to judicial proceedings” contrary to Section 99 (1) (i) of the Criminal Offences Act 2025. Abdoulie Sanyang on or about the 14 day of August 2025, at West Coast Radio made statements with intent to show disrespect to judicial proceedings, made comments on West Coast Radio Coffee Time Show describing the court tearing the case of Ousainou Bojang as “clandestine Court” an act calculated to be disrespectful to the Court, thereby committed an offence.
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