By Kemeseng Sanneh (Kexx)
The Gambia Police Force has arraigned one suspect on charges of conspiracy and robbery while seeking bench warrants for three others still at large. The case was presented before Principal Magistrate Muhammed Krubally of the Banjul Magistrates Court.
On March 22, 2025, five armed men attempted to rob a shop in Ballanghar Kerr Nderry, Central River Region. The villagers confronted the assailants, leading to an exchange of gunfire. A local hunter shot two of the suspects, one of whom later died at the hospital. The deceased, identified as Yerro Sikh Sowe, was a Senegalese national. Another suspected robber sustained injuries, while three others managed to escape.
The individuals involved in the incident are as follows:
- Amadou Bah, 1st accused (Senegalese national, captured)
- Saidou Sowe, 2nd accused (Senegalese national, at large)
- Mamadou Bah, 3rd accused (Senegalese national, at large)
- Def Sowe, 4th accused (Senegalese national, at large)
- Yerro Sikh Sowe, 5th accused (Senegalese national, deceased)
During the court session, Deputy Commissioner M. Jarju, representing the Inspector General of Police, appeared alongside ASP Sarr, Cpl 7048 A.Y. Bojang, and Inspector Saidykhan. The accused, Amadou Bah, was unrepresented.
Deputy Commissioner Jarju requested that the case be transferred to the Special Criminal Division of the High Court under Section 62 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and Legal Notice Number 3 of 2009. He argued that robbery with violence, which carries a life sentence, falls within the jurisdiction of the Special Criminal Court.
Additionally, Jarju applied for Amadou Bah to be remanded at Mile Central Prison under Section 208A of the CPC, pending his High Court appearance. He also requested bench warrants for the arrest of Saidou Sowe, Mamadou Bah, and Def Sowe.
“We apply for a bench warrant against the 2nd accused Saidou Sowe, 3rd accused Mamadou Bah, and 4th accused Def Sowe to be arrested,” Jarju stated in court.
Magistrate Krubally granted the prosecution’s requests, affirming that the Banjul Magistrate Court lacked jurisdiction over the case due to the severity of the charges. He ordered the court registrar to immediately transfer the case records to the Special Criminal Division of the High Court.
“I grant the application for a bench warrant to be issued against the 2nd accused Saidou Sowe, 3rd accused Mamadou Bah, and 4th accused Def Sowe to be arrested,” Magistrate Krubally ruled.
Amadou Bah will remain in custody at Mile Central Prison while law enforcement pursues the three fugitives under the bench warrants.
