By: Mama A. Touray
A quiet yet full courtroom has concluded watching the full video interview of ex-soldier Abdoulie Sanyang, who is facing charges of arson and contempt of court following his appearance on Coffee Time with Peter Gomez on West Coast Radio.
The interview was presented to the court by Superintendent Paul AF Sambou on November 4th 2025. Sambou testified that he downloaded the interview in three parts from the official YouTube channel of West Coast Radio. The court watched the first part on that date, but the viewing was later suspended due to the witness’s illness. Parts two and three were played after Sambou returned to court.
In the second part of the video, Sanyang explained how he left the country and spoke about his work at the American Embassy. Sitting in a chair and holding his crutches, he watched the same interview that led to his detention at Mile Two Central Prison. In the footage, he spoke about Sanna’s role in gunning down fellow soldiers, and claimed that former President Yahya Jammeh had dismissed people who were instrumental in the removal of Sir Dawda. He also accused Jammeh of tribalism and of appointing some Casamance residents into the system.
The interview further showed Sanyang claiming that he initiated the coming of the ECOMIG force to The Gambia and that he helped Solo Sandeng in planning the protest that eventually led to Solo’s death. He also told Peter Gomez that he bought his ticket to come to The Gambia so he could join the GALA demonstration.
The third part of the video was played at 2pm. In this segment, Sanyang claimed that he and others “made President Adama Barrow who he is today,” stating that Barrow was supposed to be assassinated in Bakau during a rally but that he paid soldiers to spare Barrow’s life. “We sent them money, we bribed them,” he said in the video. He also described the PIU shooting incident as a deliberate act and called the court “clandestine,” adding, “This is Barrow’s plan.”
After the court finished watching all three parts, Superintendent Sambou confirmed that the videos shown were the exact ones he copied onto a silver flash drive as directed by Commissioner Jawara. His report on the videos was also identified and admitted into evidence without objection from Defence Counsel Lamin J. Darboe.
The matter continued with the testimony of the sixth and final state witness, police officer Alpha Touray, who was on duty at the APRC political bureau in Kanifing on August 14th 2016 when it was burned.
Touray, a native of Tujereng and an officer with more than ten years of service, recalled that he had only been stationed at the bureau for three days when the incident happened. While upstairs, he heard noise, came down and hid behind a fence. From there, he said he saw a red vehicle arrive, two people step out, and three others approach him from behind. They wore masks and were not in uniform.
He testified that the men threatened to shoot him if he moved. He pleaded with them not to kill him, telling the court, “I told them I am the only one here, you can do anything you want but don’t kill me.” He said some of the men wore combat boots, which made him believe they were soldiers. According to him, they carried a knife and a pistol.
The witness said the men took him behind the building, cut his police shirt, removed his trousers, took his belt and tied his mouth with it, warning him not to make noise. One of them then called someone and said, “The situation is under control.” Shortly afterwards, Touray saw flames coming from the building.
Before leaving, the men beat him and told him that if he had been a PIU officer, they would have killed him. Touray freed himself after they fled. He reported the matter to the Police Intervention Unit in Kanifing and was later taken to the Kanifing Police Station under instructions from Yankuba Colley.
Touray said he told Colley what happened, but Colley accused him of negligence and questioned why he had not used his baton. Touray explained to the court that he had nothing to defend himself with and could not fight armed men. He said Colley mentioned that GSM operators would be contacted to trace the calls made during the attack.
He added that all officers stationed at the bureau were later arrested and taken to NIA headquarters, where he said he was beaten every night. When investigators brought him back to the bureau, he showed them where he had been hiding and where the attackers tied him.
The defence had no questions for cross-examination, and the witness was discharged. The case was adjourned to November 24th 2025 at 2pm.
By: Mama A. Touray A quiet yet full courtroom has concluded watching the full video interview of ex-soldier Abdoulie Sanyang, who is facing charges of arson and contempt of court following his appearance on Coffee Time with Peter Gomez on West Coast Radio. The interview was presented to the court by Superintendent Paul AF Sambou The Fatu Network
