A boy has been charged with attempted murder and three other counts after he allegedly drove off at speed with a police sergeant lying on the bonnet of his vehicle, following a roadside dispute over vehicle documents, ferrying the officer involuntarily from Hegan Street in Banjul all the way to Manjai.
Abdul Wahab Jobarteh appeared before Principal Magistrate Krubally at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court, where a team of senior police officers led by Commissioner Sanneh appeared for the Inspector General of Police in the matter. Abdul Wahab Jobarteh was represented by Counsel Adama Sillah and chose to speak in the Wolof language.
Abdul Wahab Jobarteh faced four counts under the Criminal Offences Act, 2025.
The first and most serious count charged him with Attempted Murder, contrary to Section 168 of the Act. The prosecution alleged that on or about 5th June 2026, at Hegan Street in Banjul, Abdul Wahab Jobarteh unlawfully attempted to cause the death of Sergeant 4485 Alagie Badjie by driving vehicle registration number BJL 6726 J at excessive speed while the sergeant lay on the vehicle’s bonnet.
The second count charged him with Reckless and Negligent Acts, contrary to Section 109(a) of the same Act, alleging that he drove the vehicle in a manner likely to endanger human life, across Banjul and diverse places.
The third count of Disobedience of Lawful Orders alleged that Jobarteh willfully and unlawfully refused to hand over his vehicle particulars to Sergeant Badjie upon demand, the act that the prosecution says triggered the entire confrontation.
The fourth and final count charged him with Common Assault, contrary to Section 195 of the Act, alleging that he assaulted an officer named in this count as Alagie Barry by clipping his hands on the vehicle’s side mirrors.
All four counts were read and interpreted to Abdul Wahab Jobarteh in Wolof. When asked how he pleaded, he entered a plea of not guilty to all counts.
Magistrate Krubally entered a plea of not guilty, noting the accused’s constitutionally guaranteed presumption of innocence, and directed the prosecution to proceed with proving its case.
Commissioner Sanneh, leading the prosecution team, which also included DCP M. Jarjou, DSP L. Trawally, DSP F.F. Kujabi and DSP E. Sarr, rose to oppose bail.
Commissioner Sanneh told the court that the offences were serious, with at least one count attracting up to seven years’ imprisonment upon conviction. He further informed the court that Abdul Wahabu Jobarteh faces additional charges not yet before the court, and that police investigators were still actively working on those matters.
Commissioner Sanneh also raised pointed concern that releasing Abdul Wahab Jobarteh on bail could put his own safety at risk. Commissioner Sanneh told the court that intelligence gathered across the country indicated the accused could face public attacks if released, given the nature of the alleged incident against a police officer. He urged the court to exercise its discretion and deny bail at this stage.
Counsel Adama Sillah pushed back firmly, arguing that the law clearly permits bail in this case. He cited Section 123 of the Criminal Offences Act, 2026, telling the court that the use of the word “shall” in that provision made bail granting a mandatory consideration, not an optional one. He further argued that even under Section 125, bail is available in capital offence matters, and the charges before the court were not capital offences.
Counsel Sillah challenged the prosecution’s grounds point by point. He argued that the court does not act on speculation, and that the prosecution had failed to demonstrate that Jobarteh would commit further offences, attempt to evade trial, interfere with investigations, or destroy or conceal evidence, the recognised legal grounds for refusing bail under Section 126.
He grounded his application in Section 19 of the 1997 Constitution, which guarantees the right to liberty and security of a person, and Section 24, which enshrines the presumption of innocence. Counsel Sillah argued that denying bail in these circumstances would amount to treating the accused as already guilty, and that the court had a duty to protect the accused’s constitutional rights. He informed the court that responsible sureties were willing and able to stand for Jobarteh’s recognisance.
In reply, Commissioner Sanneh maintained the prosecution’s position, arguing that the right to liberty under Section 19 of the Constitution is not absolute, and that the court should overrule the defence submissions.
Magistrate Krubally, having heard both sides, ruled that the offences with which the accused stands charged are bailable, and that bail remained a matter for the court’s discretion. Magistrate Krubally exercised that discretion in Abdul Wahab Jobarteh’s favour, admitting him to bail on the following terms:
Count 1 (Attempted Murder) D100,000, Count 2 (Reckless and Negligent Acts) D50,000, Count 3 (Disobedience of Lawful Orders) D50,000 and Count 4 (Common Assault) D50,000. The total bail sum stands at D250,000.
Abdul Wahab Jobarteh was ordered to provide four responsible Gambian sureties, each of whom must be in employment or running a business. The sureties are required to provide their contact numbers, correct physical addresses, and valid original identification cards or passports to the office of the registrar.
Each surety must also swear an affidavit of means, deposing that they will ensure the accused’s attendance at all subsequent court proceedings and that they will forfeit their bail bond if the accused fails to appear or absconds from the jurisdiction.
The matter has been adjourned to 16th June 2026 for continuation of proceedings.
