By Kemeseng Sanneh (Kexx)
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) continued his cross-examination of Ousainou Bojang today as the trial of the September 12, 2023, fatal shooting of two police officers at the Sukuta Jabang traffic progresses.
Bojang, who has denied the allegations, is being questioned in an attempt to discredit his previous testimony.
The DPP’s line of questioning began with Bojang’s communication and movements on the day following the incident. The prosecutor first asked whether Bojang remembered calling Ousman Manneh on the morning of September 13, 2023. Bojang replied that he could not recall the call, as he had spoken to many people that day.
The questioning continued, with the DPP pressing Bojang on the timing of calls to his sister. Bojang indicated that he last spoke with her around 11 a.m. on September 13, and had made other calls earlier that morning. When asked about the phone he used, Bojang explained that he had used a simple phone as his smartphone was out of battery.
Further, the DPP inquired about the frequency of Bojang’s calls to Ousman Manneh, a CID officer. Bojang admitted speaking with Manneh between 7 and 9 p.m. on September 12 but could not recall the exact number of calls between September 10 and 13. The prosecutor suggested that Bojang may have called Manneh as many as ten times during that period, but Bojang denied it.
The DPP also sought details of Bojang’s whereabouts on September 13. When asked about his destination, Bojang confirmed that he was heading to Zingunichorr and had stopped at Julunlung to speak with the chief of the garage.
In a subsequent question, the DPP asked if Bojang had any family in Zingunichorr, to which he confirmed in the positive. However, when asked whether he had informed his relatives of his arrival, Bojang stated that he was traveling for personal matters and had not notified anyone in advance. Bojang further clarified that his sister, who had previously lived in The Gambia, was at that time residing in Kolda, not Zinguinchor.
The DPP then turned the focus back to Bojang’s time at Mile 2, where he was detained. He asked Bojang about receiving a government press statement while at Mile 2. Bojang confirmed receiving a newspaper from his lawyer during his detention, although he could not recall the exact date. The DPP continued by asking how many newspapers Bojang had been given, to which he responded that he had received several at once.
Turning to a conversation on September 12, the DPP asked about Bojang’s communication with his brother Pa Bojang, Sulayman, and a conversation with his white girlfriend. Bojang denied conversing with his girlfriend, asserting that he had been speaking with his boss, Catherine, due to ongoing communication issues with his girlfriend. When pressed about the last time he spoke to her, Bojang mentioned it was on the previous Monday.
When asked about his experience after his arrest, particularly regarding his time at Mile 2 and interactions with L. Sowe, an officer involved in his detention, Bojang confirmed meeting Sowe at the “Operation Command” office, accompanied by Deputy Director Keita Saidy.
As the cross-examination progressed, the DPP inquired about Bojang’s visitors while in custody. Bojang confirmed receiving visitors daily, both before and after his court arraignment. The DPP further questioned when Bojang first met with his lawyer, to which Bojang responded it was after being taken to the Yundum Airport police station.
At this point, the DPP requested an adjournment to obtain records of prior proceedings, and the court granted the request. The case is scheduled for resumption on March 24 at 2:15 PM, with additional hearings on March 25, April 7, 8, and 14.
The cross-examination will continue, with further witness testimony and legal arguments as the court works to uncover the details surrounding the tragic events of September 12, 2023, and the deaths of the two officers.
