By Sainabou Sambou
In a courtroom at the High Court in Banjul, presided over by Justice Ebrima Jaiteh, Senegalese national Ass Malick Gaye took the stand as the first defense witness in his trial for the alleged sexual exploitation of a 12-year-old boy. The accused, a watchman at Qcell’s Kairaba Avenue branch, vehemently denied the charges, painting a picture of mistaken identity and false accusations stemming from a minor dispute.
Prosecutor S. Sarr represented the state, while defense counsel Francis C. Anyanwu guided Gaye through his testimony. Gaye, speaking calmly but firmly, recounted his employment at Qcell, where he filled in for absent staff and later handled cleaning duties. He noted initial opposition from relatives of Qcell CEO Muhammed Jah, but insisted that the supervisors had legitimately assigned him.
The crux of Gaye’s defense centered on an incident early one morning near a traffic junction. A woman approached him, loudly accusing him of supplying cannabis to her son whenever the boy fetched water from Qcell. “I didn’t reply,” Gaye told the court. “People nearby warned me she wanted to cause trouble.”
Later that day, the woman returned with two police officers, who escorted Gaye to Latrikunda Police Station. He maintained his innocence, explaining to officers that he had never met the woman or her child before. “Nothing happened between the woman and me,” he repeated to the police. His supervisor intervened, advising compliance, and even provided D100 for tea as a gesture to the police.
At the station, the boy reportedly admitted fabricating the cannabis claim and was warned against repeating false accusations. Gaye was released shortly after, unaware of the mother and child’s whereabouts. When questioned about surveillance, he confirmed external CCTV cameras on the street but none inside the Qcell building.
The indictment charges Gaye with intentionally engaging in sexual intercourse with the minor under coercive circumstances on or about February 5, 2022, at the Qcell premises in Kanifing Municipality – violating Sections 3(1)(a) and 4(1)(a)(III)(bb) of the Sexual Offences Act, 2013.
The hearing was adjourned to January 17, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. for state cross-examination.
