The Gambian Government confirmed for the first time last night that nine death row prison inmates had been executed, the first since President Yahyah Jammeh took over in 1994.
It followed a threat by the president on 20 August, marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, that all those on death row would be killed by mid-September this year.
In a press release issued on 24 August the exiled Civil Society Associations Gambia (CSAG) said the nine inmates at the Mile Two Central Prisons were executed between the night of August 23 and the morning of August 24, 2012. But the release issued yesterday by the Gambian Minister of Interior says they were executed on Sunday. However the names remain the same as had been released by CSAG.
This is the Government release:
Following the convictions and pronouncements of death sentences by the Gambian courts of competent jurisdiction and further to the exhaustion of their appeals, the Ministry of interior wishes to inform the general public that the following convicts were executed by firing squad on Sunday 26th August 2012:
Dawda Bojang
Charged with the offence of the brutal and gruesome murder of RONALD STANLEY FORD, a British national contrary to section 187 of the Criminal Code Cap. 10 Vol. III of the Laws of the Gambia 1990. He was convicted by the Kanifing Magistrates Court on 29th August 2007 and sentenced to life. He appealed the life sentence which was dismissed and substituted to death, pursuant to Section 188 of the Criminal Code Cap. 10, Vol. III of the Laws of the Gambia 1990 on 30th July, 2010.
Malang Sonko
Charged with the offence of the murder on one Buba Jawara by hitting him with a wooden stick on his neck thereby causing his death. Contrary to Section 187 of the Criminal Code Cap. 10, Vol. III Laws of the Gambia. He was convicted by the Brikama Magistrates Court and sentenced to death on January 30th, 2012. No appeal was filed by the convict.
Ex-Lieutenant Lamin Jarjou
Ex-SGT alias Ex Lt. Alieu Bah
Ex-SGT Lamin F Jammeh
The trio were charged with two counts of treason, two counts of murder of lance Corporal Kebba Drammeh and Private Bakary Ceesay, 4 counts of unlawful wounding with intent to do grievous harm, two counts of robbery and two counts of abduction contrary to section 35, 187, 212, 273 and 236 respectively of the Criminal Code, Cap. 10, Vol. III of the Laws of the Gambia 1990. They were convicted and sentenced to death by the High Court of The Gambia with three sitting on the 27th of October, 1998. Their appeals were dismissed and there were no further appeal.
Tabara Samba
Charged with the offence of the murder of Ebrima Nyang her husband on account of marrying a second wife poured hot cooking oil on him at Jeshwang thereby causing his death, contrary to Section 187 of the Criminal Code Cap. 10, Vol. III of the Laws of the Gambia 1990. She was convicted on the 26th September, 2007 and sentenced to death. She appealed to the High Court of the Gambia, which appeal was dismissed.
Buba Yarboe
Charged for the gruesome and brutal murder of her biological mother Jainaba Jarjou at Busumbala by hitting her on the head with an iron rod thereby causing her death Contrary to Section 187 of the Criminal Code, Cap 10, Vol. III Laws of the Gambia, 1990. He was convicted and sentenced to death by the High Court on November 3, 2010. He did not appeal against his sentence and conviction.
Lamin BS Darboe
He was charged with the offence of the brutal murder of Muhammed Ould Faal, a Mauritanian national by hitting him with a blunt object on the head on the 2nd April 1985 at Sinchu Alagie in the Kombo North, contrary to Section 187 of the Criminal Code Cap. 10 Col. III of the Laws of the Gambia 1990. Pursuant to Section 188 of the Criminal Code Cap. 10, Vol. III, he was convicted and sentenced to death on the 3rd December, 1986. He appealed against conviction and sentenced on 13th day of June 1988 and the aid appeal was dismissed.
Gebe Bah
He was charged for the murder of one Njuga Samba by causing him a deep stab wound on the left ear side of the head on the 18th December 1997 at Mariama Kunda village in the Kombo North District, Western Region. Judgment was delivered on the 30th day of January 2004 in which the accused was sentenced to death. He appealed the conviction which was dismissed.
The general public is hereby earned that the rule of law as regards the peace and stability and the protection of lives, property and liberty will not be compromised for whatever reason.
That all acts of violence, criminal activities and indiscipline resulting to murder, treason, arson, trafficking in drugs and humans and the likes of such offences attracting death sentences shall not be tolerated. Therefore, all sentences as prescribed by law will be carried out to the letter including the death penalty.
The general public is further called to respect the fundamental human right of all citizens and residents in the Republic of the Gambia.
The Republic of The Gambia is a sovereign state, which, like other sovereign states currently implementing the death penalty, has the right to implement its domestic laws as stipulated in her constitution.
Taraba Samba and Gebe Bah are both Senegalese nationals.
CSAG has condemned the executions calling them “inhumane and cruel”, and called on the government to end “this wanton disregard for human life”. Human rights organisations led by Amnesty International have roundly condemned the executions.
