According to a statement released by the judiciary on Tuesday, the Chief Justice of The Gambia has authorised a coroner’s inquest into the death of Brigadier General Bora Colley, who passed away while in state custody.
The decision comes after the Attorney General and Minister of Justice formally brought the case before the Chief Justice on March 10, 2025, with their application. The Chief Justice concluded that an inquest was “necessary or desirable” in order to look into the circumstances surrounding Colley’s death, citing Section 11(1)(a) of the Coroners Act (Cap 7:04, Laws of The Gambia).
Principal Magistrate Dawda Phatty of the Bundung Magistrates’ Court will lead the investigation and is entrusted with determining the potential causes of death. After finishing, Magistrate Phatty will deliver his conclusions to the Chief Justice in a timely manner.
According to reports, Colley, a former senior military officer, was in state custody when he passed away. The cause and circumstances of his death have not been made public by authorities.
