Omar Badjie was ‘slapped’ and ‘beaten’, police investigator tells court

By Alieu Jallow and Dawda Baldeh

A senior police investigator has told a Gambian court that First Class Officer Sulayman Jarju slapped and beat 22-year-old Omar Badjie with a stick during a patrol in Mandinary, shortly before Badjie collapsed and later died.

Testifying before Magistrate Anna O. Mendy at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court, Chief Superintendent Lamin Cham said the incident occurred on September 26, 2025, during a routine patrol. Cham, who heads the Police Investigation Unit at the Banjulinding Anti-Crime Headquarters, said Badjie and several others were smoking cannabis when officers approached.

“Upon seeing the police, they ran, and the officers chased them for about 300 meters. They caught Omar, and Sulayman Jarju slapped him once or twice and beat him with a stick,” Cham told the court.

He added that statements from officers revealed Badjie fell into the grass and appeared exhausted. “Omar told the officers he was too weak to stand, and Sulayman slapped him,” Cham said.

After collapsing, Badjie was taken to Mandinary Health Centre and later transferred to Kanifing General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Cham named four officers involved in the patrol: Sulayman Jarju, Mamadi Jallow, Ebrima Touray, and Fa Sainey Cham. All are currently in police custody pending investigation.

Investigators visited the scene and took photographs, but were unable to recover the stick allegedly used.

“We were unable to trace the stick. However, we found an indication under a mango tree where a wet branch had been cut and used to beat the late Omar Badjie. A picture was taken by the crime scene investigators, and the distance covered was 353 meters,” Cham said.

Statements from the accused officers were admitted into evidence as exhibits LC1 to LC5. The victim’s family, represented by Counsel A. J. Njie, was present during the proceedings.

The case was adjourned to 13 October 2025 for the testimony of the second witness, Sub-Inspector Buba Touray, representing the Inspector General of Police.

 By Alieu Jallow and Dawda Baldeh A senior police investigator has told a Gambian court that First Class Officer Sulayman Jarju slapped and beat 22-year-old Omar Badjie with a stick during a patrol in Mandinary, shortly before Badjie collapsed and later died. Testifying before Magistrate Anna O. Mendy at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court, Chief Superintendent The Fatu Network