By Cecilia E.L. Mendy
Former military officer Abdoulie Sanyang yesterday denied charges brought against him at Banjul High Court presided over by Justice Ebrima Jaiteh.
It would be recalled that Sanyang was slammed with charges relating to arson attack and judicial interference by the state following his interview with Peter Gomez of West Coast Radio.
Sanyang, who chose to testify in English, identified himself as a Gambian citizen residing in Brusubi, though he had been living in Switzerland prior to his arrest. He told the court that he had been in custody since August and was remanded at Mile Two Prison.
According to Sanyang, his arrest followed an interview he granted to journalist Peter Gomez, which he said he accepted willingly as a concerned Gambian citizen seeking to highlight challenges faced by Gambians under the previous dictatorship.
He stated that upon his arrival at Banjul International Airport on 17th August while en route to Switzerland for a scheduled flight appointment, he was arrested and detained overnight at the airport police station. He said he was later transferred to the police headquarters in Banjul.
Sanyang indicated that a statement was recorded with his consent but maintained that he did not accept the charges. He added that he did not meet a lawyer until he was taken to Mile Two Central Prison.
When questioned about the two-count-charges against him, Sanyang firmly denied them, insisting that he had been misunderstood during the interview. He said he never financed or participated in the burning of any bureau.
“I was not in The Gambia at the time, nor did I send money to anyone,” he told the court.
He explained that when he used terms such as “clandestine” during the interview, he was merely commenting on the evidence presented and did not intend to interfere with court proceedings.
Sanyang also told the court that his detention had affected his health, leading to a visit to Tanka Tanka Psychiatric Hospital, where he was diagnosed with anxiety and depression and prescribed medication.
While acknowledging that he contacted Peter Gomez for the interview, Sanyang argued that the video presented in court could have been tampered with, citing advances in media technology. Portions of the video played in court were cited by the prosecution as evidence that Sanyang admitted involvement in the APRC Bureau’s burning; however, he insisted that his words were misinterpreted.
He further rejected the cautionary statement (P3) tendered by the prosecution, claiming it did not reflect his intended meaning. The prosecution responded that he had not objected to the statement’s admissibility when it was recorded.
Throughout the proceedings and under cross-examination, Sanyang consistently denied any involvement in the alleged arson or interference with court proceedings. He clarified that comments he made regarding court procedures were general observations and not aimed at any specific case, including the PIU shooting case, asserting that his intention was simply to express concern as a citizen.
State Counsel Jobarteh argued that Sanyang was not qualified to determine the relevance of evidence or to comment on judicial procedures. When asked about his use of the word “clandestine,” Sanyang said he had heard it used abroad and adopted it without fully researching its meaning.
“I thank God even in such unfortunate circumstances, though I feel disgraced in my own country. After everything I have stood for since 1994, and all the sacrifices I made in service, I believe I should not be treated with such disgrace,” Sanyang remarked.
Counsel S.L. Jobarteh represented the state, while Counsel F. Bondi appeared for the accused. The matter was adjourned to 19th January 2026 for the adoption of the brief.
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By Cecilia E.L. Mendy Former military officer Abdoulie Sanyang yesterday denied charges brought against him at Banjul High Court…
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