By: Sainabou Sambou
The Brikama Magistrate’s Court, under Magistrate Anna O. Mendy, convened today to hear gripping testimonies in the ongoing inquiry into the death of Omar Badjie, a young man from Mandinary village, allegedly assaulted by police officers during a patrol. The courtroom was packed with grieving family members, neighbors, and supporters, as the case, represented by Counsel AJ Njie, unfolded with chilling details.
Chief Superintendent Lamin Cham, head of investigations at the Anti-Crime Unit in Banjulinding, provided a detailed account of the incident and the subsequent investigation. Cham testified that on the day of the incident, he was alerted by Commissioner Momodou Sowe at approximately 11:30 a.m. about an attack on the Mandinary Police Station by enraged residents, sparked by Badjie’s death. Badjie had been taken to Mandinary Health Centre and later transferred to Kanifing General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Cham revealed that four officers—1st Class Constable Sulayman Jarju of Jamburr, Police Constable Mamadi Jallow of Kubariko, Police Constable Ebrima Touray of Lamin, and Police Constable Fa Sainey Cham of Banjuliding—were involved in the patrol and are now in custody. The investigation, led by Crime Management Coordinator Commissioner Boto Keita, pinpointed Sulayman Jarju as the officer allegedly responsible for physically assaulting Badjie.
According to Cham, the officers claimed they encountered Badjie and others allegedly smoking cannabis during a morning patrol. When the group fled, the officers chased Badjie for over 353 meters. Cham testified that Jarju allegedly slapped Badjie twice and beat him with a stick, causing him to collapse. Eyewitnesses, however, contradicted the officers’ claim that Badjie collapsed on his own, alleging he was assaulted during and after the pursuit.
The investigation panel, comprising Cham, Amadou Kujabi, Inspector Lamin Sowe, and Sub Inspector Bubacarr Touray, interviewed four eyewitnesses from Mandinary: Majula Jammeh, Ousman Kanyi, Malang Keita, and Tumani Badjie. A scene reconstruction revealed signs under a mango tree, suggesting a freshly cut branch may have been used in the assault, though the stick remains unrecovered. A photograph of the tree was submitted as evidence.
The officers’ cautionary statements, including two from Jarju, were presented in court. The panel awaits postmortem results to finalize their report. The case, which has sparked outrage in Mandinary, was adjourned to October 13, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. for continuation.
