(JollofNews) – Three Gambian men who are accused of having gay sex in the Gambia Monday appeared at the high court in Banjul.
Alieu Sarr, Momarr Sowe and Modou Lamin Bittaye are charged with six counts of unnatural offences and conspiracy.
The men were arrested last year by state security agents and detained incommunicado at the NIA headquarters in Banjul and other places where they were allegedly tortured and forced to write confession statements.
State prosecutors said the men were engaged in homosexual acts in the country and diverse places dating back to 2002.
Prosecutors added that sometime in 2010 and 2014, the first accused, Alieu Sarr, had gay sex with Fallou Camara and Serign Boye Jallow in Bijilo and Brusubi, West Coast Region.
They revealed that Alieu Sarr also committed a similar offence in 2002 and 2013 when he had sex with Serign Mboob and Momarr Sowe.
Prosecutors further revealed that the second accused, Momodou Lamin Bittaye, also committed an offence in 2014 when he had sex with Saloum Njie, Njanko Ceesay and Gibou Jatta in Kotu, Busumbala village and Latrikunda.
With regard to the third accused, Momarr Sowe, prosecutors said he first committed the offence in 2002 when he had sex with one Momodou Lamin Conateh.
Prosecutors added that the accused person also committed an offence in 2003 when he slept with Kebba Ceesay and Iker Nyan at Luigis Restaurant and other places.
The men pleaded not guilty to all the charges and were remanded at the Mile Two Central Prisons by the presiding judge, Justice Abi, pending their bail application.
Homosexuality is seen as a taboo in the Gambia and President Yahya Jammeh who once likened gays to rats, has vowed to come down heavily on suspected gays.
