The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dawda A. Jallow, has acknowledged that the rearrest of Ousainou Bojang following his acquittal by the High Court was unlawful, describing the incident as “regrettable.”

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Jallow said Mr Bojang had been formally released from prison after the court cleared him of charges linked to the 2023 Sukuta-Jabang shooting, which left two police officers dead.

“To be released from prison and re-arrested is not lawful, it is regrettable, it happened,” Mr Jallow said.

He explained that once Mr Bojang had been discharged, any further detention required fresh legal backing.

“After having been formally released from the prisons, he could not have been re-arrested without a further court order, which I am not aware of,” he added.

The Attorney General said corrective steps were taken once the issue came to light.
“So, necessary interventions were done and he was released immediately the following morning,” he said.

The case has drawn significant public attention in The Gambia, particularly given the sensitivity surrounding the Sukuta-Jabang incident and the time Mr Bojang had already spent in detention before his acquittal.

The rearrest triggered protests and criticism from sections of the public, with concerns raised over respect for due process and court rulings.

Mr Jallow’s remarks mark a clear admission that proper legal procedures were not followed, as scrutiny grows over how the situation was handled and whether accountability will follow.

By Adama Makasuba