Abdoulie Sanyang Trial: SIU Officer Testifies Before Justice Jaiteh

By Mama A. Touray

Cadet Conteh, who resides in Bundung, told the court that he first came into contact with the accused during an investigative panel convened by Commissioner Jawara, the head of the SIU. The panel had been tasked with investigating remarks Sanyang made during an interview with journalist Peter Gomez on Coffee Time on West Coast Radio.

“I recognise him with respect to an investigative panel set up by Commissioner Jawara, the head of the Special Investigation Unit, which I was part of,” Conteh testified.

He explained that the panel’s focus was to verify statements Sanyang made during the radio interview, including a claim that he was involved in setting fire to the APRC political bureau in 2016. “We were trying to question him about some of the utterances he made during the course of the interview. One of them was that he was part of those who put the APRC bureau on fire in 2016, and we questioned him on that,” he said.

When asked how the interview came about, Conteh said Commissioner Jawara contacted Peter Gomez by phone to clarify the circumstances. According to Conteh, Gomez told the panel that he had not invited Sanyang but that the accused had voluntarily approached him, saying he wanted to address fellow Gambians on air.

“We took it upon ourselves, together with Commissioner Jawara, to ask Peter how the interview came about. Peter told us that he was not the one who invited the accused. Instead, the accused came voluntarily, saying he wanted to speak to his fellow Gambians,” Conteh explained.

He further stated that Gomez had a brief meeting with Sanyang before the broadcast to discuss the intended topics but was surprised by what the accused ultimately said live on air.

At this stage, defence counsel Lamin J. Darboe objected, arguing that the accused was not the person who spoke with Peter Gomez directly and that whatever was said had been relayed to him. In response, State Counsel S. L. Jobarteh maintained that the witness had first-hand knowledge as a member of the investigation panel.

“It was not narrated to me,” Conteh replied. “I was present when Commissioner Jawara called Peter on the phone.”

The prosecution then attempted to tender a document said to contain Peter Gomez’s statements during that telephone conversation. However, Defence Counsel Darboe objected, stating that the document had not been disclosed to the defence and that its source was uncertain.

“We were not shown the document, and it was never disclosed to us. We don’t know if the document even emanated from Peter. Peter is in The Gambia; let the state call him as a witness to testify,” Darboe argued.

He further noted that the document was not addressed to either the Inspector General of Police or the Special Investigation Unit.

Justice Jaiteh upheld the defence’s objection and ruled in favour of the accused’s counsel. The case has been adjourned to 20th October 2025 at 1 p.m. for continuation of the first prosecution witness’s evidence-in-chief.

 By Mama A. Touray Cadet Mbye Conteh, a police officer from the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of The Gambia Police Force, testified on Tuesday in the ongoing trial of former soldier Abdoulie Sanyang, who is facing charges of arson and contempt of court before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh at the High Court in Banjul. Cadet Conteh, The Fatu Network