Principal Magistrate Touray of the Kanifing Magistrate Court has remanded former soldier Abdoulie Sanyang on an arson charge and transferred the case to the High Court for trial.
The decision was made after the prosecution successfully argued that the magistrates’ court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the matter, citing that one of the charges, arson, carries a potential sentence of life imprisonment.
When the case was called, presided over by Principal Magistrate Touray, the Inspector General of Police was represented by Commissioner A. Sanneh, ACP M. Camara, and ASP A. Touray. And the accused Abdoulie Sanyang was represented by Counsel Lamin J Darboe and F. Conteh.
The accused Abdoulie Sanyang is charged with four counts of criminal offences:
Count One: Arson (Contrary to Section 283 of the Criminal Offences Act 2025). The prosecution alleges that in 2016, in Kanifing South, Sanyang willfully and unlawfully participated in the planning and setting fire to the National Bureau of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC).
Count Two: Seditious Intention (Contrary to Section 48(2)(a) punishable under Section 50(1)(a) of the Criminal Offences Act 2025). The charge stems from comments Abdoulie Sanyang allegedly made on August 14, 2025, during the “Coffee Time Show” on West Coast Radio. The prosecution claims he intended to incite hatred, contempt, or disaffection against the President by alleging the President was involved in electoral malpractices during the 2021 Presidential elections.
Count Three: Incitement to Violence (Contrary to Section 58(1)(a) of the Criminal Offences Act 2025). The prosecution claims that during the same radio show on August 14, 2025, Abdoulie Sanyang stated he provided financial support to the “3 Years Jotna Movement” for an illegal protest aimed at demanding the President’s resignation.
Count Four: Offences Relating to Judicial Proceedings (Contrary to section 99(1)(i) of the Criminal Offences Act 2025). The prosecution alleges that on August 14, 2025, Abdoulie Sanyang described the ongoing court hearing of Ousainou Bojang as a “clandestine Court”, a statement intended to show disrespect to judicial proceedings.
Before the charges were formally read to the accused Abdoulie Sanyang, ACP M. Camara, leading the prosecution, invoked Section 72 of the Criminal Procedure Code, informing the court that it lacked the jurisdiction to hear the arson charge, as it is a capital offence punishable by life imprisonment.
He requested the court to remand the accused under Section 125 and transfer the entire case to the High Court under Section 228 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
“My lord, since one of the charges is a capital offence and not bailable, pursuant to section 125, we apply for the remand of the accused in prison pending trial in the High Court pursuant to section 228 of the Criminal Procedure Act,” ACP Camara requested.
Commissioner Sanneh added his voice to the application, arguing that while three of the counts could be heard by the magistrates’ court and the arson charge couldn’t, and they could not be separated, he sought the court to transfer the entire four counts.
On his reaction to the prosecution, application Counsel J. Darboe representing the accused stated he had no objection to the prosecution’s application.
Principal Magistrate Touray reviewed the arguments, noting the prosecution’s application and the defence’s lack of objection. He ruled in favour of the prosecution, granting their application to have the case transferred to the High Court.
“The court has granted the application and the accused persons shall be remanded at the Mile 2 central prison pending the hearing,” Magistrate Touray ruled.
Following the ruling, Abdoulie Sanyang was escorted by officers from the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) to the Mile 2 Central Prison, where he will remain in detention until his case is heard at the High Court.
