By Mustapha Jallow
Jerrending Sanyang, a top official of ex-President Yahya Jammeh backed faction of the APRC dubbed “No Alliance Movement” and two other militants, Sankung Badjie and Ebrima Sanneh alias ‘A Samai, were asked by senior officers at Banjulinding Police Station to stop reporting on bail until when they are needed.
But the 3 count charges levelled against Mr Sanyang are still in place. The trio were asked to stop reporting on bail in early November 2021.
“The charges are still in place and the case is also on. I am waiting for them (Police), anytime they need me, I will go and answer them,” said Mr Sanyang.
According to him, his last report to the said station was before the campaign, saying when he went to the station, he was given two weeks because the police understood he was going for campaign.
“When I met with Pateh Jallow, the Police Commissioner for West Coast Region told me I can continue with the campaign and they will contact me when they need me,” he said.
Since then, Mr Sanyang said the Police never contacted him and he is yet to report back on bail because the officers promised him that anytime he was needed, they would call him.
Sankung Badjie also shared similar issues, saying before the 2021 presidential campaign, they were asked to stop reporting on bail until further notice.
“We were asked to stop reporting and we were also told by the officers that they will call us once they need us at the station,” said Badjie.
It could be recalled that Sanyang, a senior official of APRC’s No Alliance Movement, faced three (3) count charges the day he was picked up by state security agents on 25th October 2021.
Meanwhile, the police spokesperson told this medium that Jerrending was charged with: 1. Prohibition of conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace contrary to section 9 of the Public Order Act 2. Unlawful assembly contrary to section 70 of the Criminal Code and 3. Disobedience to lawful orders contrary to section 116 of the Criminal Code.
Their subsequent arrest and detention came in the wake of an attempt by Jammeh’s loyalists (APRC’s No Alliance Movement) to hold a press conference at Sanyang’s house in Lamin, on 25th October 2021.
This later resulted in a confrontation between Jammeh’s supporters and government security forces. The conference could not be held after paramilitary officers (police) stormed Sanyang’s house and told him that he was wanted at the Banjulunding Police Station.
Sankung Badjie and Ebrima Sanneh alias ‘A Samai,” were arrested outside the Banjulunding Police Station’s building on that same day.
The trio were later released on bail- the same day of their arrest, on 25th October, at 7pm. They started reporting on bail on the following day on 26th October.
Jammeh’s Movement is a breakaway faction of the APRC party, rebelling against the APRC-NPP merger which was announced by the Fabakary Tombong Jatta’s led executive ahead of the presidential elections.
