By: Nicholas Bass
The alleged shooter of three paramilitaries Ousainou Bojang has given testimony on the allegations of shooting to death of two paramilitary officers and critically injuring another sometime in September of last year.
Bojang is a resident of Brufut and security guard at the Smiling Coast Residence in Brufut.
Testifying before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh on Tuesday and Wednesday, Ousainou said he could recall that on 12 September 2023, he left Brufut on that particular day, but returned home at 5:00 pm, stating he went to work at 7:00 pm at Smiling Coast Residence and closed at 7:00 am. He adduced that he was relieved from duty by one Famara Badjie on 13 September 2023, stating that after closing at around 11:00 am, he went to a nearby shop just within four compounds away from his home to buy a dinner.
According to Ousainou, he left Brufut Smiling Coast Residence for the shop and asked one of his brothers Famara Bojang, who was seated with a group of youths beside the gate of the lodge, to look after the place. He further testified that before he left for the shop, he saw the youths who were seated beside the gate, watching a video on the cell phone of one of the youths, explaining that when he approached them, Famara Bojang told him that he saw something very serious, regarding the police officers, who were shot and killed. The witnessadded that he rushed to the shop of one LamaranaJallow, where he bought credit and dinner.
Ousainou also revealed that after his conversation with one Sulayman, he started chatting with his boss, Kathleen Smith, on WhatsApp about his lady friend Clandeth, who owned four apartments at Smiling Coast Residence. He stated that he had a relationship with Clandeth and he is her power of attorney with the responsibility of managing her apartments at Smiling Coast Residence.
He stated that he usually pay D6,450 monthly contribution to his girlfriend for the maintenance of the apartments, saying that one day he had a money problem regarding her rental apartment payments which, according to him, were usually deposited into his girlfriend’s bank account.
Bojang told the court that he usually phoned his girlfriend on video calls, stating that in one of their conversations, his girlfriend Clandeth told him that she would do something he [Bojang]would regret for the rest of his life.
Bojang told the court that when he noticed that his friend Famara Sarjo was causing a confusion in his relationship with Clandeth, he told him [Famara] to stay away from their relationship. He testified that Famara Sarjo lodged a complaint against him at theBrusubi police station and that he was phoned by one officer Seedy Sonko to answer to the station, stating when he went to Brusubi police station, he found Famara Sarjo there.
At that juncture, the case was adjourned to 25thNovember for the continuation of Bojang’s testimony.
Meanwhile, Ousainou Bojang is standing trial on the charge of killing police constables Pateh Jallow and Sang J. Gomez and causing serious injuries to Constable Ancy Jawo.
Ousainou’s alleged conspirator, Amie Bojang, is standing trial for a single count of accessory to murder contrary to Section 202 of the Criminal Code, Cap 10:01, Volume 3, Laws of The Gambia (2009).