The trial of three members of the GALA movement, Alieu Bah, Kemo Fatty, and Omar Camara, continued before Principal Magistrate Sallah Mbye today. The accused face charges of unlawful assembly and common nuisance stemming from a gathering at the National Audit Office (NAO) in September 2025.
The proceedings began with a delay as the third accused, Omar Camara, was absent due to a vehicle breakdown in the provinces. Defence Counsel L.S. Camara apologised for the absence, and with no objection from the prosecution, the court proceeded with the testimony of the third prosecution witness (PW3), ASP Landing Bojang, a Platoon Commander of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU).
Commissioner A. Sanneh led the witness ASP Landing Bojang in his evidence in chief.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: What are your names?
ASP Landing Bojang: A.S.P. Landing Bojang.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: Address?
ASP Bojang: I live in Foni, Brefet.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: What about here?
ASP Bojang: Kanifing South.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: Is it correct that you are a police officer?
ASP Bojang: Yes.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: Is it also correct that your rank is ASP?
ASP Bojang: Yes.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: Where are you attached to?
ASP Bojang: Kanifing P.I.U. (Police Intervention Unit).
Commissioner A. Sanneh: What is your responsibility at P.I.U.?
ASP Bojang: Platoon Commander.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: Can you recall 15th Sept 2025?
ASP Bojang: Yes.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: On this day, where were you?
ASP Bojang: At Kanifing P.I.U.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: Whilst there, did anything transpire which warranted your coming to court today?
ASP Bojang: Yes, I am aware.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: Tell the court what you are aware of.
ASP Bojang: I was on standby at Kanifing P.I.U. While on standby, I was warned by my command to report to Kanifing Estate Station. Upon arrival, I was briefed by Commissioner Jawara that there is a group of people who want to hold a conference at the National Audit Office (NAO).
Commissioner A. Sanneh: Were you alone when you went to Kanifing Station?
ASP Bojang: No, I went with a sector of 10 personnel.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: These 10 personnel, are they all PIU officers?
ASP Bojang: Yes.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: Who was the head of the team?
ASP Bojang: I, A.S.P. Landing Bojang.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: What happened?
ASP Bojang: He told me that there are people who want to hold a conference without a permit and that they should be dispersed upon arrival at the NAO. I met Supt. Dawda Jallow with other general duty officers. The place was crowded. I told him I was asked to disperse the people.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: What do you mean the place was crowded?
ASP Bojang: There were a lot of people at the NAO. I met Dawda Jallow and asked him if the people had a permit. He said no, and I am still negotiating with them. I also joined him in the negotiation. We negotiated for almost 10 minutes, and they refused.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: What was the negotiation about?
ASP Bojang: For them to know they were there without a permit, and to disperse.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: Who were you negotiating with?
ASP Bojang: It was a group of people, crowded, and they were all standing shouting. I told them look, you are here without a permit, so you should disperse.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: In the court, who was in that group?
ASP Bojang: Alieu Bah, Kemo Fatty and Omar Camara (but not in court).
Commissioner A. Sanneh: Do you know Omar Camara?
ASP Bojang: I cannot recognise the face.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: Do you know Kemo Fatty?
ASP Bojang: I cannot recognise the face.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: What happened when you negotiated and nothing happened?
ASP Bojang: That’s the time we used tear gas.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: After using the tear gas, what happened?
ASP Bojang: Others dispersed and three remained at the National Audit Office premises and were arrested by the general duty officers.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: Can you identify the three?
ASP Bojang: I can only identify two at this moment.
Commissioner A. Sanneh: Who are the two?
ASP Bojang: Alieu Bah and Kemo Fatty. (Witness identifies the accused persons in the dock).
Cross-Examination by Counsel L.S. Camara
Counsel L.S. Camara: ASP Bojang, how long have you been in the police?
ASP Bojang: 20 years.
Counsel L.S. Camara: How long in the P.I.U.?
ASP Bojang: All my service career, I spent at P.I.U.
Counsel L.S. Camara: So you were never a General Duty officer?
ASP Bojang: No.
Counsel L.S. Camara: Can you remember what time you arrived at NAO on the 15/9/25?
ASP Bojang: I cannot remember.
Counsel L.S. Camara: How many of you went to the NAO?
ASP Bojang: We were 10.
Counsel L.S. Camara: ASP Bojang, your instruction was to get there and disperse the gathering, was that not your instruction?
ASP Bojang: Yes.
Counsel L.S. Camara: And when you got to the ground, you met a more senior officer than you, is that correct?
ASP Bojang: Yes.
Counsel L.S. Camara: And this officer was negotiating to defuse the situation?
ASP Bojang: Yes, as I also joined him.
Counsel L.S. Camara: Is it correct that when you arrived at the NAO many people were standing outside the perimeter of the office?
ASP Bojang: Not outside the perimeter of the office.
Counsel L.S. Camara: Where were they standing?
ASP Bojang: Inside the perimeter.
Counsel L.S. Camara: Do you know the number of people standing inside?
ASP Bojang: What I know is they were many people.
Counsel L.S. Camara: At that time, you did not know any of the Accused persons personally?
ASP Bojang: No.
Counsel L.S. Camara: And ASP, is it correct to say that you personally did not effect the arrest of any of the accused persons on that day?
ASP Bojang: No.
Counsel L.S. Camara: And because you did not effect an arrest on any of them personally, you do not know why they were arrested?
ASP Bojang: Yes.
Counsel L.S. Camara: Because you do not effect an arrest on any of them, you do not know where they were arrested?
ASP Bojang: Yes.
Counsel L.S. Camara: Do you know when they were arrested?
ASP Bojang: Yes, because after the move I was asked to write a statement.
Counsel L.S. Camara: When were they arrested?
ASP Bojang: 15th Sept.
Counsel L.S. Camara: I mean time.
ASP Bojang: I do not know the time.
Counsel L.S. Camara: Were they arrested before you arrived or after you arrived?
ASP Bojang: They were arrested after throwing the gas.
Counsel L.S. Camara: Who gave instructions for the tear gas to be thrown?
ASP Bojang: It was me.
Counsel L.S. Camara: Where was it thrown, inside the premises or outside NAO?
ASP Bojang: Inside.
Counsel L.S. Camara: That’s all for the witness
Following the cross-examination with no re-examination from Commissioner Sanneh, ASP Landing Bojang was discharged. Commissioner A Sanneh informed the court that they have one remaining witness to present. The case was adjourned to Monday, 16th February, 2026, at 2:15 PM.
