GALA trial: Police fail to produce witness statement in court

By Mama A. Touray

The Inspector General of Police, represented by prosecutor A. Sanneh, on Monday failed to provide the witness statement of its first witness in the trial of three GALA members before Principal Magistrate Isatou Sallah Mbai at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.

The accused – Kemo Fatty, Alieu Bah and Omar Saibo Camara – face two charges under the Criminal Offences Act 2025: unlawful assembly and common nuisance.

According to the Particulars of Offence, the three men allegedly held an unlawful protest on September 15, 2025, at the National Audit Office against the removal of the Auditor General, without a permit from the Inspector General of Police. They are also accused of causing annoyance, obstruction and inconvenience to the public.

The issue of the statement arose when defence counsel L.S. Camara asked Superintendent Dawda Jallow, the prosecution’s first witness, if he had given a statement on the arrest of the accused. Jallow replied: “Yes, I think on the 16th of September 2025.” Counsel Camara then applied for the statement, but prosecutor Sanneh told the court it was not available.

Counsel Camara responded: “If I don’t have the statement here, I would not need it, I have been in this business for long.” Prosecutor Sanneh assured the court: “Immediately after this adjournment, counsel will be served with the relevant documents. He first requested for the charge sheet which was given to him and that shows how compliant we are.”

Counsel Camara argued that both the charge sheet and witness statement are constitutional rights of the accused, saying: “The prosecution knows this more than I do. If it’s not available in court, I would not need it.”

After hearing submissions, Magistrate Sallah Mbai ordered the prosecution to furnish the defence with all documents they intend to rely on. Prosecutor Sanneh replied: “What they request is what we will give to them not what they don’t request.”

Magistrate Sallah Mbai emphasised: “This is an order, serve them with all the documents you intend to rely on, that’s the order at the expense of the defence.”

 By Mama A. Touray The Inspector General of Police, represented by prosecutor A. Sanneh, on Monday failed to provide the witness statement of its first witness in the trial of three GALA members before Principal Magistrate Isatou Sallah Mbai at the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court. The accused – Kemo Fatty, Alieu Bah and Omar Saibo Camara The Fatu Network