In an emotional session at the High Court in Banjul, Abdoulie Sanyang, a former soldier of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), broke down in tears while giving evidence in his ongoing trial.
Abdoulie Sanyang is facing charges of arson and interference with judicial proceedings before Justice Jaiteh.
The state was represented by Counsel S.L. Jobarteh, while the accused is represented by counsels F. Bondi and J. Jeng.
Upon taking the stand, Abdoulie Sanyang opted to speak in English and took an oath to tell the truth.
Abdoulie Sanyang led by Counsel F. Bondi in his evidence in chief told the court he resides in Switzerland but stays in Brusubi, but informed the court that he’s currently been in custody at Mile 2 Prison since his arrest on August 17.
He testified that he was apprehended at the airport while rushing to return to Switzerland for a scheduled medical appointment on August 19.
According to his testimony, he had an interview with West Coast Radio, and due to that, he was arrested. He told the court that on the 17th, he was on his way back to Switzerland when he was arrested at the airport.
“On the 17th, he was rushing to go back to Switzerland for his appointment on the 19th. He was approached by an officer and informed he was under arrest. After two hours, he was taken to Brusubi Police Station for interrogation by an officer named Keita, where he spent the night.”
On the following day, Pa Alieu Jawara picked him up from Brusubi and took him to the Banjul Police Headquarters, where a statement was obtained from him. Sanyang testified that there was no independent witness present at the time the statement was obtained, and he remained there for almost a week.
Abdoulie Sanyang stated that his health deteriorated while being detained at the Banjul police headquarters on a mat. He further claimed he was denied access to a lawyer until he was eventually transferred to Mile 2 Prison.
“I was seriously interrogated with many questions. I told them I did not know what I had done,” he said.
Abdoulie Sanyang recounted that a panel of nine people, including Pa Alieu Jawara and some of his former military colleagues, questioned him extensively about his interview with Peter Gomez.
He said they asked whether he had a hidden agenda or had financed any activities, which he denied. “They never brought any paper or identified anyone to whom I allegedly sent money,” he said.
Expressing disappointment, Abdoulie Sanyang told the court: “I have faced difficulties for the past 23 years fighting the former regime. I don’t think I should pay such a price. I am disappointed to be asked about things I know nothing about.”
Abdoulie Sanyang revealed that he had previously been diagnosed with depression in Switzerland and had undergone a psychiatric examination in the country (Gambia). He said he struggled to sleep properly and was in tears as he recounted his condition.
“As someone who served the country, I will not do anything bad for the country,” he said emotionally tears rolling.
He told the court that he was not in the Gambia in 2016, having only returned in 2018. Regarding the video evidence played in court, Abdoulie Sanyang said he had been misinterpreted or misquoted, and he denied ever sending money to anyone to commit arson burning the APRC bureau.
He emphasized to the court that in the interview he was saying the Gambian burning the bureau as their struggle against the former regime as he wasn’t in the country at the time and didn’t finance the burning.
“I mean we Gambians burned the bureau and not as individuals. I was misquoted about the interview”.
When asked about describing the court as “clandestine,” he said his comment was based on the evidence and was not about the court itself.
“I was just explaining the evidence before the court when I used the word ‘clandestine’, as most of the evidence brought before the court was thrown out,” he added.
Under cross-examination by State Counsel Jobarteh, Abdoulie Sanyang was asked if he stood by his remarks to Peter Gomez. He replied that the charges were based on misinterpretations.
“I only referenced the burning of the APRC bureau. Yes, the building was indeed burnt down in 2016, and I saw it in the media. But I never said I took part in it,” he told the court.
He rejected claims that he mobilized people to burn the bureau, swearing on the Quran: “I have never mobilized anyone, nor financed anything. What I meant was that the change in 2016 was carried out by Gambians. I was not in the country at that time.”
The prosecution argued that his statement was tendered without objection and with an independent witness present.
Abdoulie Sanyang disagreed, insisting the police had wrongly implicated him. “That is not my statement. The police wrote their own version. They can write anything they want,” he said.
He maintained that he never contributed to funding the burning of the bureau, despite suggestions in the police record.
He acknowledged that some people believed voter cards belonging to former president Yahya Jammeh were kept at the bureau, but he denied any role in the incident.
The court played video footage of his interview with Peter Gomez, which Abdoulie Sanyang identified as himself. However, he insisted he was misquoted. Even after the video was replayed, showing him admitting participation in the burning, he maintained:
“I was never part of the burning of the APRC bureau. Maybe it was misunderstood, but I meant that the change in 2016 was done by Gambians. I never financed it, nor participated in it.”
Abdoulie Sanyang was questioned by Counsel Jobarteh about comments he made regarding the judiciary. He clarified that his remarks were directed at how investigations were handled, not at the courts themselves.
“I was referring to how material evidence was brought before the judge. Most of the evidence in this case was thrown out,” he explained.
When asked if he was in a position to evaluate what evidence prosecutors should present, he disagreed:
“I was just expressing myself as a citizen, not dictating what goes on in court.”
The prosecution pressed him on statements suggesting the international community had already proven the case and was waiting for President Adama Barrow’s strategy. Sanyang denied implying executive interference in the judiciary.
“I did not say that. I only meant that as head of state, he is part of the process. I was speaking as a citizen,” he said.
He rejected claims that his comments discredited the court or suggested executive control, insisting: “As a citizen and former security officer, I was only expressing concern, nothing more.”
He admitted using the word “clandestine” to describe how evidence was handled, but clarified:
“I was not referring to the court itself, but to the evidence brought before it.”
He also confirmed making comments that statements by the National Security Adviser and government spokesperson did not align with evidence in the Ousainou Bojang case.
