By Sainabou Sambou
The Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, under Magistrate Thomas Touray, approved an amended charge sheet on Thursday in the trial of 23 individuals accused of participating in an unauthorized protest at the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) in August 2025. The defendants, charged with unlawful assembly and conducting a procession without a permit, pleaded not guilty to the revised charges.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manga, alongside Assistant Superintendent Fatoumatta Touray and Sub-Inspector Jallow, represented the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The defense team, led by Counsel L.S. Camara and including J. Jorbateh, K. Jallow, and F. Jarju, represented the accused.
ACP Manga submitted the amended charge sheet, citing Section 218 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 2021. “We are applying to substitute the previous charge sheet with the amended one, which has now been filed before the registrar of this court,” Manga told the court. “The new charge contains two counts, and we urge the court to grant it.” The defense raised no objections, and Magistrate Touray approved the application.
The accused individuals are Lamin Daffeh, Lamin Sey, Badou Secka, Yusuf Taylor, Tumani Colley, Ali Cham, Abdoulie T. Bah, Alieu Sarr, Bakary Jammeh, Musa Conteh, Rofine Camara, Ansumana Touray, Bakary J. Sanyang, Lamin FM Marigo, Fallou Gallas Ceesay, Yahya Jaiteh, Sisaho Danso, Sulayman Manga, Ebrima Jatta, Ebrima B. Keita, Musa Sanyang, Musa Sisoho, and Ebrima Jallow.
The first count, under Section 5(5) of the Public Order Act, Cap 22:01, Laws of The Gambia 2009, alleges that between August 22 and 23, 2025, the defendants conducted a public procession without a permit from the IGP along Kairaba Avenue in Kanifing Municipality, in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace. The second count, under Section 63 of the Criminal Offences Act, 2025, charges the group with unlawful assembly at PURA on the same dates without police authorization.
All 23 defendants entered not guilty pleas when the charges were read in court.
During cross-examination, defense counsel L.S. Camara questioned state witness Alasana E. Bah, a police officer involved in the arrests. Bah confirmed that Lamin Daffeh, the first accused, was arrested at the PURA protest on August 22, 2025, but could not recall the precise time. He admitted that while he and his team arrested all 23 individuals, he could not personally identify each defendant or specify how many were arrested on August 23. “I don’t know them physically, one by one,” Bah testified. “I am not in a position to identify who among the 23 accused persons was arrested.”
The case has drawn attention due to its implications for public assembly laws in The Gambia. The trial has been adjourned to October 9, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. for further proceedings, with the court expected to hear additional testimony as the prosecution builds its case.
