There was pandemonium out of the courtroom after the accused, who were believed to be adults, were remanded. Two of their relatives protested, saying that the accused did not kill anybody. “This is just an allegation which is not true. You cannot remand them. They have not done anything. There is no law in the country. How can you send them to Mile 2? This is not fair,” one of their relatives angrily shouted.
There was pushing and pulling, as the relatives who were protesting were being pushed into the courtroom to be charged. “Do you think that here is your home? You think you can come here and behave anyway you like. You will be charged and sent to Mile 2 because of your behaviour. This will not be accepted,” the prosecuting officer, Inspector Cherno Baba Jallow, addressed them.
As the protesting relatives were being pushed into the courtroom to be charged, they pleaded for mercy, apologising for their behaviour. “We are very sorry,” they said. Inspector Cherno Baba Jallow then allowed them to be released.
When the case was called, the defence counsel, Edrissa Sissoho, observed that the charge sheet was defective. “Your Worship, instead of charging the accused under the offence-creating section, they have been charged under the punishment section,” the defence counsel argued.
Inspector Cherno Baba Jallow, who quickly went through the charge sheet, conceded and told the court that there was a typographical error. “We are applying to amend the charge sheet. Your Worship, the problem is with the number. It should read as Section 147 instead of 148. Section 147 is the right section for the offence-creating section. We apologise,” the prosecuting officer stated.
His application to amend the charge sheet was granted by the court, although the defence counsel argued strongly, stating that the prosecution should come with a new charge sheet.
Counsel Sissoho also told the court that all the accused persons are minors, and that the court does not have the jurisdiction to hear the case. “Then you have to provide the court with their birth certificates to prove their ages,” the presiding magistrate told him. He agreed.
Prosecutors alleged that the accused persons on or about the 19th July, 2026, at Bakau, in the Kanifing Municipality of the Republic of The Gambia, robbed one Sheikh Dicko by forcefully taking away his mobile phone Mark Samsung A14, valued at D8,000.
The two minors were subsequently granted bail in the sum of D100,000 with a Gambian surety each. They should attain the age of 30 or above and should surrender their ID cards to the registrar of the court. They should also swear to an affidavit of means.
The remaining four were remanded until the 12th August, 2026, for hearing.
