By Sainabou Sambou
The High Court in Banjul, presided over by Justice Omar Cham, resumed the trial of three men accused of a violent armed robbery on Monday, July 14, 2025. The case centers on the alleged theft of over one million dalasis and CFA francs from the United Vegetable Oil Company near Denton Bridge. The accused—Abdoulie Jallow (first accused), Losseni Diabate, also known as Alfusainey Jobarteh (second accused), and Ansumana Jarju (third accused)—face charges of conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery with violence, and disabling in order to commit a felony.
The prosecution, led by Principal State Counsel M.B. Mballow, called police officer Lamin Saidykhan as a key witness, while Defence Counsel E. Sanneh represented the second accused, and Counsel U.A. Ugar appeared for the first and third accused. The courtroom was tense as Saidykhan’s testimony revealed details about the recovery of funds and the alleged use of stolen money to purchase firearms, raising questions about the investigation’s thoroughness.
Under cross-examination, Saidykhan testified that over D200,000 was recovered from the second accused and his wife, with more than D30,000 specifically traced to the wife. However, when pressed by Counsel Sanneh to confirm the exact amount, Saidykhan admitted, “I can’t remember the precise figure.” He clarified that the funds were linked to the robbery, which allegedly involved over one million dalasis and CFA francs stolen from the company on December 31, 2024. The three accused were arrested on February 8, 2025.
Saidykhan’s testimony took a dramatic turn when he revealed that investigations pointed to D400,000 of the stolen money being divided among the accused, with each allegedly receiving D100,000. The remaining D100,000, he claimed, was used to purchase two guns from a neighboring country for future criminal operations. When Counsel Sanneh asked whether any receipts were recovered to substantiate the firearm purchases, Saidykhan responded, “There was no receipt recovered because it was illegally purchased.” He further admitted that the guns were smuggled into The Gambia, but he could not identify the seller, stating, “I do not know the name of the seller of these firearms.”
This revelation prompted a heated exchange. Counsel Sanneh pressed Saidykhan for details about the gun seller, but State Counsel Mballow objected, arguing that the question was irrelevant and aimed at delaying the proceedings. Despite the objection, Sanneh repeated his query, only for Saidykhan to reiterate his lack of knowledge about the seller’s identity or further details.
Counsel U.A. Ugar, representing the first and third accused, challenged Saidykhan’s claim that the second accused was an employee of the United Vegetable Oil Company. “I am putting it to you that the second accused was never a staff member of the said company, nor were his co-accused,” Ugar asserted. Saidykhan stood firm, insisting, “The second accused was a staff member of the company.” Ugar also questioned whether the police had accessed the company’s staff room hall during the investigation, to which Saidykhan replied, “No.”
The prosecution faced scrutiny over the lack of physical evidence, as Saidykhan confirmed that no actual cash was recovered from the accused in connection with the robbery. This admission raised questions about the strength of the evidence tying the accused to the crime, with the defense seizing on inconsistencies in the witness’s account.
The trial, which has gripped public attention due to the scale of the alleged robbery and the violent nature of the charges, underscores ongoing concerns about crime and security in Banjul. The absence of receipts for the suspected gun purchases and the vague details surrounding the smuggled firearms have fueled skepticism about the investigation’s rigor, setting the stage for a contentious legal battle.
Justice Cham adjourned the case to October 16, 2025, for further proceedings, leaving unresolved questions about the recovered funds, the alleged firearms, and the accused’s connection to the company. As the trial progresses, it will likely continue to draw scrutiny, with implications for both the accused and the broader fight against violent crime in The Gambia. The courtroom, packed with observers, reflected the high stakes of the case, as Gambians await clarity on whether justice will be served in this high-profile robbery trial.
