Ebrima Barry's tragic death is a salient reminder to all of us that the
Gambia security forces (army, police, fire service, etc.) need to be
harnessed.

There are many documented incidents where Gambian police and military
personnel have arbitrarily detained, tortured, and/or killed people with
impunity.  This behaviour is not unique to the security forces under the
APRC government.

In October 1992, three police officers of the Brikama Police Station were
charged with "assault occasioning bodily harm" of Mamudu Jarju, who had been
detained for an alleged criminal offense.  Mamudu Jarju, who had had an
altercation with his employer over missing funds, was arrested by some
officers of the Brikama police and tortured to death. Two of the accused
officers were sentenced to three years of imprisonment, while the third was
acquitted. Help me Albany! Following the public outrage, the then DPP filed
an appeal against the ruling, which was considered too lenient.

In December 1992, in a dramatic reverse ruling, two of the officers were
sentenced to death.  I wonder whether they're still at Mile Two Prison.

The Gambia security forces have their own Justin Volpes and Kenneth Bosses,
and such incidents from the Brikama security forces are beginning to sound
like the NYPD.

Let's see what the courts will do this time.

Hamadi.
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