The Coroner’s Inquest inquiring into the cause of death of Omar Badgie continued in open court at the Brikama Magistrates Court on Thursday 16th October.
The Coroner, Madam Anna O. Mendy, after the second witness completed his testimony in chambers, allowed the third witness in the inquest, Inspector Haruna Fadera to testify in open court before Counsel A Njie for the family of late Omar Badjie. Momodou L Jarju Rongo with various family members & community members including several well- wishers.
COURT: What Language do you want to speak?
Ans: I wish to speak in English.
What is your Religion?
Ans: Muslim.
Q. What is your name?
A. My name is Haruna Fadera.
Q. What is your address?
A. I live in Makumbaya.
Q. What is your Occupation?
A. I am a police officer.
Q. What is your rank?
A. I am an inspector.
Q. Where are you posted?
A. I am posted at the Mandinari Police post but currently I am at the Banjulunding Police Station.
Q. As at the period of Friday the 26th day of September 2025. Where were you posted by then?
A. I was posted at the Mandinari Police post.
Q. Before the period of Friday 26th day of September 2025 incident, what was your role when you were post at the Mandinari Police post?
A. I was clerk of the Station but I have other 3 divided reliefs (shift) working team as well.
Q. Aside from being the clerk. What else are your duties at the Mandinari Police post?
A. My role is to also be in charge of the administrative services & furthermore I do also help in the entry of case files & other transactional records of witness statements.
Q. Who is the Station Officer of the Mandinari Police Post?
A. The station officer is one Yusupha Badjie.
Q. Can you recall the 26th Day of September 2025?
A. Yes, I can recall that day.
Q. Where were you on that particular day?
A. I was on Duty at the Mandinari Police post on that day.
Q. Can you tell this court what time you usually report on normal duties daily?
A. I used to report by 7.30 am.
Q. Can you tell this court what you know happened on the 26th Day of September 2025 as you earlier said you were posted at the Mandinari Police post?
A. I can remember in the morning at around 10.15 am when my Station officer Yusupha Badjie paraded four of our junior officers, one 1st class Sulayman Jarju & three other police constables (PC) namely Ebrima Touray, Fansainy Cham & Mamadi Jallow to brief them on an assignment for our usual visibility patrol routine duties.
Station officer Yusupha Badjie during that briefing advised these four officers to be very cautious in the manner they should behave when they are approached and are dealing with the members of the local community.
These statements were entered into the station diary before these officers departed.
Well after their departure until the period of around 10.30 am, Ist Class Sulayman Jarju and PC Mamadi Jallow returned & found us at the police post to inform us that they saw some boys suspected of being in possession of cannabis & they chased them but one of them fell and became unconscious.
They further narrated to us that they rushed the victim, late Omar Badjie, to the Mandinari Health Centre & handed him over to the nurses in duty.
I then left the station to visit the Health Centre where I found the victim lying and was treated by the nurses on duty led by one Mr. Jaiteh who was there with other two of our junior officers Fansainy Cham and Ebrima Touray.
Mr. Jaiteh told us that he had already called the ambulance from the Banjulunding Health Centre to transport the victim to the Kanifing Hospital.
Q. Upon your own observation, what was the condition of the victim at the time you saw him at the Mandinari health centre?
A. He was alive at that time.
We contacted one of our officers called Sergeant Amie Sanneh to be part of the escort team for transporting the victim to the Kanifing Hospital alongside PC Ebrima Touray and others.
We then returned to the Mandinari Police Post and later on came to realise that the ambulance finally came and went to transport the victim late Omar Badjie just at the time they were around Abuko end rushing to Kanifing Hospital.
The Presiding Magistrate Honourable Anna O Mendy had decided to stop at this very interesting point by adjourning the case till Monday the 20th October 2025, at 11 am, when the third witness Inspector Haruna Fadera will continue his testimony in open court.
In his testimony during the first day of proceedings, the first witness, Chief Superintendent Lamin Cham, admitted that that 1st Class Constable Sulayman Jarju assaulted 27-year-old Omar Badjie of Mandinary Village before his death on 26th September 2025.
Principal Magistrate Anna O Mendy of the Brikama Magistrates Court decided on Monday 13th October to proceed with the matter behind closed doors.
The death of Omar Badjie has sparked outrage and protests in Mandinari, as residents accused the police of brutality. The police initially claimed Badjie, who was allegedly being pursued for possessing a cannabis joint, collapsed during a “hot pursuit.” A later statement from the force said investigations were underway.
