The Barrow government has confirmed the arrest of former AFPRC junta member, Yankuba Touray, for witness tampering and perverting the course of justice.

The government spokesman Ebrima Sankereh confirmed Touray’s arrest and said he would be arraigned before a court of law. In a press release Sankareh said:

“Yankuba Touray who was arrested earlier on Saturday is in police custody and faces criminal charges under Section 36(a)(b) of TRRC Act, 2017. Police investigations into the matter are ongoing and Mr Touray is expected to appear in court sometime this week.

“Touray’s arrest follows a complaint by the Ministry of Justice over concerns expressed by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) that the subject was either attempting to tamper or interfering with its witness, ex-army Sergeant, Alagie Kanyi, or attempting to pervert the cause of justice by concealing evidence that could potentially incriminate him and junta colleagues in alleged atrocities and extra-judicial executions meted out to citizens while in power.

“Sergeant Kanyi, a confessed murderer and assassin who appeared before the TRRC on Thursday the 28th of February, 2019, provided probably the most damning testimony against the former regime as he revealed the harrowing details of state-sanctioned murders among them, the chilling finality of former Finance Minister, Ousman Koro Ceesay in which, Mr. Touray is implicated.

“In view of this matter, The Gambia Government wishes to re-echo the admonitions of the TRRC’s Vice Chairperson, Mrs. Adelade Sosseh and lead-Counsel, Mr. Essa Faal, that the Commission’s mandate was to establish the truth, reconcile Gambians and make recommendations to Government.

“Furthermore, The Gambia Government wishes to make it categorically clear that any attempt to interfere with TRRC witnesses, their testimonies or tampering and or concealing evidence
formerly or informally, is utterly criminal and punishable by law.

“Therefore, The Gambia Government urges citizens to take the TRRC very seriously and will not under any circumstances condone any attempt by anybody to interfere with its operations either directly or indirectly and any person(s) found wanting will face the full force of the law.”