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He was with me that night: Defence witness says in alleged PIU shooter case

May 20, 2025, 11:57 AM | Article By: Fatou Dem

The trial of Ousainou Bojang, the alleged shooter of two Police Intervention Unit (PIU) officers, resumed yesterday with two defence witnesses testifying on his favour at the High Court in Banjul.

Ousainou Bojang and his sister, Amie Bojang, both stand trial in connection with the September 12 incident that shook the nation.

The first to testify was Sulayman Faal, a resident of Brufut, who told the court he had been living at a lodge with his partner for four months and was present with Ousainou on the night of the alleged shooting.

“On the 12th of September, around 11pm, Ousainou came to me at the lodge and said he saw on What’s On Gambia that two PIU officers had been shot. He warned me to be careful because I used to go out at night,” Faal said.

He claimed that he was with Ousainou at the lodge the entire night and reiterated: “It is impossible he committed the crime; he was the one who told me about the shooting.”

Under cross-examination by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), A. M. Yusuf, Faal confirmed that Ousainou was a security guard at the lodge and was well-acquainted with other residents and staff. When asked if he was defending his friend to protect him, Faal insisted: “I will defend him when he’s right but will not defend him when he’s wrong.”

The second defence witness, Famara Bojang, also from Brufut and a relative of the accused, testified that Ousainou had contacted him on the same night to discuss personal issues related to a misunderstanding with a woman he was dating.

“He told me someone had hacked his Facebook and WhatsApp, and that the woman he accused earlier was not responsible. He apologised,” Famara said, adding that Ousainou later showed him photos of the woman he believed was behind the hacking.

Defence witness Famara Bojang further stated that Ousainou had expressed a desire to him to apologise to their stepfather as he used to pass everyone without greeting anyone in the compound.

The case was adjourned until May 27, 2025.