Ex-Police Chief Gets Life Sentence for Robbery

Jailed police chief, Ensa Badjie

Even as two other criminal trials hang over his head, The Gambia’s former hardliner police chief was Friday sentenced to life imprison for a myriad of wrongdoings, including robbery.

Ex Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ensa Badjie has been also found wanton of aiding the escape of a condemned robbery gang leader from lawful custody and received stolen properties.

Badjie was also found guilty of interfering and deceiving witnesses to an unstated criminal venture, together with Ali Ceesay, a prison officer who has been ordered either to pay a D30, 000.00 fine or risk a three-year jail term.

The former law enforcement officers, now law breakers had denied the charges, even after several witnesses to their condemned conducts affirmed the accusations.

“Although Soriba Condeh is a criminal, the evidence he gave is credible,” Justice Ikpala of Special Criminal Court said, referring to the incriminating revelations by inmate Soriba Condeh, who confessed being the leader of robbery gang, whose robbery operations were masterminded by the former police chief.

Following his appointment, Ensa Badjie was hailed by Gambian president Yahya Jammeh as best police IG ever, despite the rising crime, especially murder and robbery during his tenure.

Ex-Police Chief Denies Befriending a Pub Manager

A former police chief standing trial on multiple criminal charges said, the state witness no. 7 was severely tortured by the National Intelligent Agency to testify against him.
Embattled ex-police chief, Ensa Badjie and Ali Ceesay, a prison officer are accused of robbery, aiding prisoners to escape, abuse of office, drugs and related offences.
Both pleaded not guilty.
Yaya Tony, the manager of the famous City Pub had earlier testified that Ensa Badjie is a friend, who used to visit his pub.
However, Ensa Badjie alleged that the pub manager succumbed to over a one month detention with severe torture at the NIA headquarters.
He said he is not a friend to Mr Tony.
“Why will Tony lie against you,” the director of public prosecution quizzed and Ensa replied: “Because he [Tony] was under duress.”
“Was he tortured in this court,” DPP further asked and Ensa replied: “He was escorted by the officials.” 
On the state witness no.10, Abdoulaye Sowe, Ensa said he had a quarrel with him when he was commanding Kanifing police.
He explained: “I had a quarrel with him when he impregnated one female constable and abandoned the child.”
Soriba Condeh is a convicted robber serving jail sentence at the maximum prison in Banjul. When he appeared as a state witness, he said, he was the robbery gang leader, but Ensa Badjie masterminded their robbery operations.
However, Ensa said, he did not know Soriba Condeh until the day the latter was arrested.
“What is your source of information that Soriba Condeh had disappeared,” DPP asked. Ensa said that is the information he received.
When asked if he had fulfilled his promise when Soriba was captured he said he did not because Landing Bojang, Serrekunda police boss was trying to incriminate him.
Badjie Denied allegations that he gave cannabis and alcohol to Soriba at the office of the drug squad as alleged of him.
He said he only went with Soriba at the office of the Drug enforcement in the presence of Benedict Jammeh, Omar Jibba.
Badjie said Soriba Condeh and wife Fatou Mendy bear hatred against him because, as he said, “I arrested Soriba Condeh when he escaped from prison.”
He said the other murder and robbery convicts have all lied against him in court. “Why would they lie against you,” he was asked.
“Because if they lie against me they will be given presidential pardon and if they tell the truth they will remain in prison,” the former police chief said.
Hearing continues today.