Demise of 1st witness delays ex-Lands Minister’s economic crime trial: Prosecution
The late Yahya Sanyang, was the prosecution's first witness in the economic trial. He first testified in the trial on the 29th of May 2025. The case was then adjourned for cross-examination after he completed his evidence in chief. Former Minister Sheriff Abba Sanyang and Pa Modou Jobe face a sprawling 27-count criminal indictment filed by the State, which includes charges of economic crimes, theft, forgery, uttering false documents, and disobedience of statutory duty. However, when the case was called on Wednesday, the 20th of May 2026, state counsel Jobarteh informed the court that Sanyang had passed away in October 2025. Counsel Jobarteh then served the defence counsels with a copy of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA’s) announcement of Yahya Sanyang’s demise on Facebook. Counsel Jobarteh further informed the court that before the demise of Yahya Sanyang, the defence lawyer for Abba Sanyang, filed an application for the production of some documents. “Before his demise, there was an application by Counsel Sanyang for the production of certain documents. These documents are here with me today,” he told the court. Counsel Sanyang then thanked the state for providing the documents but argued that the documents cannot be admitted into evidence because the demised prosecution is not available. “The witness was testifying in his capacity as a private business owner not a staff member of GRA. The witness was under cross-examination before his death. The right application my learned friend should have is that the testimony of the witness, which is not complete, should be expunged from the records. This is a criminal trial,” Counsel Sanyang argued. Counsel B. S. Touray, the lawyer representing Pa Modou Jobe aligned himself with the submission of Counsel Sanyang and said that the witness was only asked two questions under cross-examination. “The witness is not here and the documents cannot be tendered through any witness nor through the bar. There is no procedural mechanism through which these documents can be tendered through,” Counsel Touray argued. However, State Counsel Jobarteh insisted that the documents are relevant to the proceedings of the trial. He informed the court that the state would advise itself on the matter. The case was then adjourned to the 6th of July 2026 for continuation.
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The late Yahya Sanyang, was the prosecution's first witness in the economic trial. He first testified in the trial on the 29th of May 2025. The case was then adjourned for cross-examination after he completed his evidence in chief.
Former Minister Sheriff Abba Sanyang and Pa Modou Jobe face a sprawling 27-count criminal indictment filed by the State, which includes charges of economic crimes, theft, forgery, uttering false documents, and disobedience of statutory duty.
However, when the case was called on Wednesday, the 20th of May 2026, state counsel Jobarteh informed the court that Sanyang had passed away in October 2025.
Counsel Jobarteh then served the defence counsels with a copy of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA’s) announcement of Yahya Sanyang’s demise on Facebook.
Counsel Jobarteh further informed the court that before the demise of Yahya Sanyang, the defence lawyer for Abba Sanyang, filed an application for the production of some documents.
“Before his demise, there was an application by Counsel Sanyang for the production of certain documents. These documents are here with me today,” he told the court.
Counsel Sanyang then thanked the state for providing the documents but argued that the documents cannot be admitted into evidence because the demised prosecution is not available.
“The witness was testifying in his capacity as a private business owner not a staff member of GRA. The witness was under cross-examination before his death. The right application my learned friend should have is that the testimony of the witness, which is not complete, should be expunged from the records. This is a criminal trial,” Counsel Sanyang argued.
Counsel B. S. Touray, the lawyer representing Pa Modou Jobe aligned himself with the submission of Counsel Sanyang and said that the witness was only asked two questions under cross-examination.
“The witness is not here and the documents cannot be tendered through any witness nor through the bar. There is no procedural mechanism through which these documents can be tendered through,” Counsel Touray argued.
However, State Counsel Jobarteh insisted that the documents are relevant to the proceedings of the trial. He informed the court that the state would advise itself on the matter.
The case was then adjourned to the 6th of July 2026 for continuation.
