By: Mama A. Touray
Former Gambian soldier Abdoulie Sanyang, who is facing charges of contempt of court and arson, broke down in tears today as the High Court watched his controversial interview with journalist Peter Gomez. The video, which was central to his arrest in August, was played in court as part of the ongoing trial.
Sanyang was arrested at Banjul International Airport shortly after appearing on Coffee Time with Peter Gomez, where he accused the government of rigging the 2021 presidential election and being involved in the Sukuta-Jabang shooting that killed two police officers. Authorities later said his comments posed serious national security concerns. He also faces a separate arson charge linked to the alleged burning of the APRC political bureau in Kanifing in 2016, which he denies.
During today’s hearing, the prosecution presented the interview video as evidence through Paul A. F. Sambou, an officer from the IT Department of the Gambia Police Force. Sambou told the court he had been with the police for four years and was instructed by the Director of the State Intelligence Unit, Mr Jawara, to extract the interview footage from the official Coffee Time with Peter Gomez YouTube channel.
“I recognise the accused from the footage I extracted from his interview with Peter Gomez,” Sambou testified. He explained that the interview appeared in three parts, which he downloaded directly to the police’s official HP laptop before transferring the files to a new silver flash drive for submission to the State Intelligence Unit.
Sambou confirmed that the flash drive presented in court was the same one used to store the footage. When asked who appeared in the video, he replied that it featured Peter Gomez and the accused, Abdoulie Sanyang.
Following this confirmation, State Counsel S. L. Jobarteh applied for the video to be played in open court. Defence Counsel Lamin J. Darboe raised no objection, but later resisted Jobarteh’s request to skip sections of the footage, arguing that “it would be in the best interest of the court to watch the video from the beginning to the end.”
Justice Ebrima Jaiteh agreed, instructing that the video be played in full since it was being tendered as evidence.
As the court watched the first part of the interview, Sanyang could be seen describing his role in a past coup led by former president Yahya Jammeh, as well as the mistreatment of soldiers involved. While the courtroom listened, Sanyang stood up from his chair and quietly began to cry.
The matter was adjourned to November 10th 2025 at 12 noon for the continuation of the remaining two parts of the interview and further testimony from Paul Sambou.
By: Mama A. Touray Former Gambian soldier Abdoulie Sanyang, who is facing charges of contempt of court and arson, broke down in tears today as the High Court watched his controversial interview with journalist Peter Gomez. The video, which was central to his arrest in August, was played in court as part of the ongoing The Fatu Network
