Two police officers from the Banjul International Airport on Tuesday testified before Justice Jaiteh at the High Court in the ongoing trial of former Gambian soldier Abdoulie Sanyang, who is charged with arson and judicial interference.
The first prosecution witness, Police Officer Filijeh Dibba, told the court that he received a call from his superior, Commissioner Ousman Mboge, instructing him to immediately place Sanyang’s name on the airport’s stop list.
“My commissioner told me to make sure that Sanyang’s name was entered into the stop list so that the system would alert officers if he attempted to travel in or out of The Gambia,” Dibba testified.
Officer Dibba further stated that Commissioner Mboge sent him a short video interview featuring the accused with journalist Peter Gomez. He showed the video to his colleague, Officer Jabou Sarr, who immediately recognized Sanyang. According to Dibba, Sarr confirmed she had seen the same man, wearing the same shirt, at the airport earlier that day.
Officer Dibba said Commissioner Mboge also sent him a short video interview of the accused with journalist Peter Gomez. He shared the video with his colleague, Officer Jabou Sarr, who immediately recognized Sanyang as the same man she had seen earlier that day at the airport wearing the same shirt.
Following the identification, Officer Dibba, Officer Sarr, and Corporal Kemo Korteh went to the Immigration Department to verify Sanyang’s entry. Immigration officials, however, informed them that Sanyang’s name was not in their system, prompting the officers to conduct a physical search of the airport.
Dibba said he called Commissioner Mboge for further instructions and was told to locate and arrest Sanyang if found. The team then began combing the airport premises—including the terminal, VVIP lounge, and restaurants.
The second witness, Corporal Kemo Korteh, testified that he recognized Sanyang from pictures circulating on social media and a photo sent by Commissioner Mboge.
He said he also received a tip-off from an informant named Lama, who confirmed seeing Sanyang at the airport and mentioned that he was preparing to travel. Acting on this information, Korteh located Sanyang and called his colleagues to the departure hall.
“I approached Abdoulie, identified myself as a police officer, and carried out the arrest,” Korteh told the court.
Both officers testified that the accused cooperated during his arrest. “We rushed to the location, found Abdoulie, and arrested him. He complied with us,” Officer Dibba stated.
“Korteh echoed, “He complied with the arrest.”
After his arrest and transfer to the airport police station, Abdoulie Sanyang’s luggage was retrieved along with the D1,000 airport fee, and he was handed over to Interpol officers who were on site.
During cross-examination, Defence Counsel Darboe questioned Officer Dibba about the preparation of police statements, asking whether he had written or typed statements on behalf of his colleagues, Korteh and Sarr. Dibba repeatedly responded, “No, I didn’t.”
The second witness, Corporal Kemo Korteh, corroborated portions of Dibba’s testimony, confirming that the events took place on Saturday, August 17, 2025, at Banjul International Airport. Korteh explained that Commissioner Mboge had instructed him and his team to locate Sanyang after Immigration reported that the accused was not in their system. They also checked with Turkish Airlines and Brussels Airlines, but the latter referred them back to Immigration.
Corporal Korteh detailed receiving a tip-off from a man named Lama, who said he had seen Sanyang in the area and mentioned that he intended to travel. Acting on this information, Korteh located Sanyang and called his colleagues to the departure hall.
“I saw Abdoulie and called my colleagues at the departure hall to come,” Korteh stated. He then approached Sanyang, identified himself as an officer, and made the arrest.
He added that he recognized Sanyang from social media photos and a picture sent by Commissioner Mboge.
The case has been adjourned and is scheduled to resume on November 5 at 2:15 p.m. for the continuation of the hearing.
Background of Charges
Abdoulie Sanyang faces charges of arson and judicial interference. The arson charge relates to a 2016 incident at the National Bureau of the Alliance for Patriotic Re-orientation and Construction (APRC), the party of former President Yahya Jammeh. He is accused of participating in the planning and setting fire to the APRC Political Bureau in Kanifing South, an offense that carries a life sentence if convicted.
In an interview with journalist Peter Gomez, Sanyang, who had been based in Switzerland, admitted involvement in the fire, claiming it was motivated by patriotism and a desire to ensure a free and fair electoral process. He alleged that the bureau was secretly storing 300,000 fraudulent voter cards issued to foreign nationals ahead of the 2016 presidential election, and that the fire was meant to destroy these illegally issued cards.
Regarding judicial interference, Sanyang is accused of attempting to influence the ongoing trial of Ousainou Bojang, which he reportedly described as a “clandestine court.”
