Jawla, testifying as the first defence witness (DW1) before Justice Sidi K. Jobarteh, faces two criminal charges: robbery contrary to Section 272 of the Criminal Code, punishable under Section 273(2), and grievous harm contrary to Section 214 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 10:01, Vol. III Laws of The Gambia 2009.
The prosecution alleges that on 3 January 2024, at around 9:00am at Nusrat Junction, Tallinding Highway, Kanifing Municipality, Jawla stabbed Aminata Cham with a knife and stole her bag containing D130,000, 250 euros, 15,000 CFA, £5, bad notes of D3,700 and her salary of D3,500.
Defence Testimony
Jawla, a resident of Bakoteh Junction Ba and a microfinance officer formerly with Kolomoni, told the court he holds a diploma in Banking and Finance. He insisted he was wrongly accused.
“I was called in the morning by my mother who told me my father was sick. I dressed and left my house. While walking with my bag, I heard noise behind me. A crowd surrounded me, held my hands and started beating me,” Jawla testified.
He said the crowd took his bag, which contained D60,000 in rent money paid by tenants, his mobile phone, charger and national identity card. “Since that day, I have not set eyes on that bag,” he told the court.
Jawla recounted that an elderly man intervened, suggesting he be taken to the police station. At the man’s compound, a police officer handcuffed him before escorting him to a taxi where another officer, identified as Samba, allegedly slapped him and threatened further violence.
“When we reached the police station, I was taken to a room where officers began beating me. One officer, Jallow, told me that if I did not tell them the truth, something would happen to my body that I would not like,” Jawla said.
He claimed he was later taken to Jammeh Foundation Hospital due to injuries sustained, but regained consciousness only in a police cell. He denied signing any documents at the station, insisting he was too badly beaten to comprehend what was happening.
Cross-Examination
During cross-examination, State Counsel A. Drammeh accused Jawla of lying, arguing that he was beaten by members of the public after stabbing the victim and stealing her money, not by police officers.
Jawla maintained his account: “The respect and honour I have for this court, and for the person asking me, I will not lie. What I am saying is the truth.”
