Ousainou Bojang, the man accused of fatally shooting two Gambia Police Force officers, concluded his evidence-in-chief today in a packed courtroom, submitting key items, including a seized jacket, shoes, and a D20,000 bank receipt as evidence. The trial, which has gripped the nation, saw Bojang led through his testimony by defense counsel Lamin J. Darboe as he sought to clear his name in the double murder case.
During the proceedings, Bojang tendered several personal items confiscated by police, including a black jacket with camouflage lining, a white shoe, and clothes soaking in a laundry bucket at his home. Counsel Darboe successfully applied to have these items admitted into evidence, with no objections from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) A.M. Yusuf. The jacket was marked as Exhibit D29, the shoe as Exhibit D30, and other items like a kaftan and a Qcel router were also taken from Bojang’s residence.
A significant moment came when Darboe presented a D20,000 bank receipt deposited into Guarantee Trust Bank under Bojang’s partner’s name, Claudette Francis. After DPP Yusuf handed over the previously misplaced receipt, Bojang confirmed its authenticity and admitted it into evidence without objection.
After completing his testimony, DPP Yusuf began a rigorous cross-examination to challenge Bojang’s account. Yusuf pressed Bojang on details of his travels, questioning the number of phones and identification documents he carried. Bojang admitted to owning two phones—a simple phone and a smartphone—but clarified that he left the smartphone at home while traveling to Casamance. He also confirmed handing over his passport, ID card, and residential permit to his sister at the border, claiming he intended a short trip.
The DPP further probed Bojang about his identification documents, including two Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs). Bojang explained he obtained one TIN with his Gambian ID and a second in Senegal after losing his original ID card, later securing a replacement with a birth certificate provided by his brother.
The session was adjourned as time ran out, and cross-examination is set to resume tomorrow. The case draws intense public interest, with Bojang’s fate hanging in the balance as the prosecution seeks to discredit his testimony.
