By Mustapha Jallow
The Gambia Armed Force (GAF) has on Thursday confirmed the dismissal of two soldiers after they were summarily tried by their respective Commanders and found guilty.
Major Lamin K. Sanyang, the army spokesperson said a military police Lance Corporal Mayada Sarr was dismissed from the army on 29th May 2020.
“He was summarily tried and found guilty. His offence is he allowed a civilian to use his pistol to shoot at another civilian,’’ he said.
He added that the former military police officer was tried by his Commanding Officer at Yundum Barracks. He spent 36 days in detention.
The army spokesperson also confirmed the dismissal of Lance Corporal Nuha Conteh, a state guard soldier. He said Conteh was tried on 2nd June – and found guilty of drug trafficking. He quickly added that the officer was later handed over to the Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
“If you are dismissed from the army, you don’t receive any benefit – no, nothing,’’ he said.
It could recalled that LCpl Sarr, who was purportedly armed with a pistol allowed one Ebrima Badjie, a civilian to use his pistol to shoot one Omar Solly in the right arm on 24th April 2020 in Lamin. He was later arrested together with the shooter, Badjie on the following day (25th April).
For his part, LCpl Conteh, was alleged to have opened fire at Kalagi Police Station sometime last month, after being nabbed with cannabis. He escaped immediately when he fired in the air to pave way for his release.
But according to army spokesperson the state guard was later arrested by the military police upon reporting to work at state house in Banjul on 4th May.
