Uncategorized

Gambian court sentences five ex-spies to death for murder committed during ex-President Jammeh’s regime

Published

2 years ago

July 14, 2022

Five former spies who were members of the Gambian Intelligence Service have been sentenced to death for the murder of a political activist during the regime of former President Yahya Jammeh.

The sentence was given on Wednesday by a High Court in Banjul, Justice Kumba Sillah-Camara who pronounced the sentence on the accused who included Yankuba Badjie, the former head of the National Intelligence Agency, (NIA), after finding him guilty of murdering an “important member” of the opposition United Democratic Party,
Ebrima Solo Sandeng, in 2016, on the orders of the dictator Jammeh.

Also convicted alongside Badjie were
the NIA’s former operations chief, Sheikh Omar Jeng, as well as other officials of the agency, Babucarr Sallah, Lamin Darboe and Tamba Mansary, who were sentenced on the same charges.

During the sentencing, the court heard that Sandeng was arrested during an April 2016 demonstration against Jammeh and was murdered in custody two days later after having been beaten and tortured.

The murder of the opposition figure triggered a serious political upheaval in the tiny West African country which galvanised a political movement that eventually ousted Jammeh after ruling the country for 22 years.

The trial and conviction of the five ex-spies which began in 2017, was not the only of such trials tied to crimes committed under Jammeh’s brutal regime as a former aide, Yankuba Touray, was tried and sentenced to death in 2021 for the 1995 murder of finance minister Koro Ceesay.

Another former Jammeh accomplice, Bai Lowe, went on trial in April in Germany, on accusations of crimes against humanity, murder and attempted murder, while former interior minister, Ousman Sonko, has been under investigation in Switzerland since 2017, and another Jammeh hitman, Michael Sang Correa, was indicted in 2020 in the United States.

Jammeh himself has been accused of various crimes including rape, use of death squads, and of ordering the disappearances of political enemies.

Click to comment

Uncategorized

Zimbabwe bans police from using mobile phones while on duty

Published

8 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Zimbabwean government has banned members of its police force from using mobile phones while on duty.

The ban, which is with immediate effect, was contained in a memo ordering police officers to abandon their private communication gadgets while on duty.

“All officers are required to surrender their mobile phones to their supervisors once they get to their stations and only use them during their break time,” part of the memo reads.

“Despite numerous instructions given forbidding use of cell phones whilst on duty by members of the police service, commanders are not enforcing this.

“No member is allowed to be in possession of a cell phone whilst on duty. Cell phones should only be used during break and lunch times.

“Officers in charge of police stations have been ordered to enforce the ban, with threats issued against those who do not comply. Once a member is found with a cell phone whilst on duty, the officer in-charge of the said member will be put to task,” the memo adds.

Local media reports that though no reasons were given for the ban, it is widely believed this could be part of efforts to curb police corruption.

“It comes a few days after two traffic enforcement officers were arrested in the capital, Harare, after a viral social media video exposed them taking bribes from public transport vehicles,” a media platform reported.

“The new mobile policy seeks to reinforce what appears to have been a previous order addressed to all stations late last month.”

Uncategorized

Zambia: Police arrests former MP Lusambo while hiding in ceiling

Published

3 days ago

November 2, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Zambian Police has arrested a former Member of Parliament (MP), Bowman Lusambo, in connection with a case of inflicting unlawful injuries.

Lusambo, who was the MP of Kabushi Province, was arrested while hiding inside the ceiling in his home after he had been convicted in absentia by the Luanshya Magistrate Court, prompting the issuance of a bench warrant for his arrest.

Police spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga, who announced Lusambo’s arrest in a statement on Friday, emphasized the importance of enforcing court directives.

“In line with our duty to uphold court directives, the Zambia Police Service commenced an immediate search for Mr. Lusambo to effect the court’s order,” Hamoonga said in the statement.

He said officers located Lusambo at his residence “where he was found hiding in the ceiling.”

“Mr. Lusambo is now in police custody and will be presented to the court as directed by the bench warrant,” the police spokesman noted, while urging citizens to respect the rule of law and cooperate with law enforcement as they work to maintain peace and order in the country.