Journalist Pa Modou Bojang, of Home Digital FM and Membekering talkshow, has brought a civil suit at the High Court against the Gambia Police Force, the Ministry of the Interior and the Attorney General’s Office over police assault during the Faraba Banta riot last year.

Mr. Bojang alleged that he was assaulted and unlawfully detained by personnel of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) when he was out and about covering the Faraba Banta riot last year.

In the statement of claim, Mr. Bojang said that he went to Faraba Banta to report on a land dispute between the community and the police. He said while he was there, he saw the people of the community of Faraba Banta clashing with the PIU personnel. He said he was behind a mango tree while the riot was happening.

Mr. Bojang said one of the senior personnel of the police approached him demanding to know what he was doing. He said that he told the senior officer that he was a journalist and his purpose of going to Faraba Banta was to cover the incident which was of interest to the public and to report as the events were unfolding.

He said after showing that PIU officer his press card, some other PIU officers came and ordered him to delete everything on his phone. He said he told them that the phone had documents that he wouldn’t want to lose including his bank details.

Mr. Bojang alleged that it was at this point that the PIU personnel started assaulting him, slapping him on his face and kicking him; he fell to the ground.

He said despite being on the ground feeling helpless and offering no resistance, the beating continued and other PIU personnel joined in the assault on him. He said he sustained injuries on his head, nose, and mouth, back and as well as receiving verbal assault.

He said his Samsung mobile phone, identity card and digital voice recorder were all seized at the scene.

The case, which was heard before Justice Aminata Saho-Ceesay of the Banjul High Court, has been adjourned to June 17 for the full hearing.  

Lawyer Lamin J. Darboe represented the plaintiff, Pa Modou Bojang whiles the defendants, the government including the Gambia Police Force were represented by Lawyer A. Ceesay.