Principal Magistrate Sallah Mbye has refused to preside over the murder case of former Jungler operative Sanna Manjang, ruling that the charges fall outside the jurisdiction of the Magistrates’ Court.
Manjang, a former member of ex-president Yahya Jammeh’s feared paramilitary unit known as the Junglers, appeared in court on Wednesday facing three counts of murder linked to incidents in 2005 and 2006. The alleged victims are veteran journalist Deyda Hydara, and Kanilai natives Ndongo Mboob and Haruna Jammeh.
The prosecution team, led by Commissioner Sanneh and supported by senior police officers including DPC Jarju, ACP Manga, ASP Y. Colley and ASP F. Kujabi, represented the Inspector General of Police. Manjang stood in the dock unrepresented.
Before the charges were read, Magistrate Mbye asked the accused what language he understood. Manjang responded defiantly, saying he would not speak to the court. The Magistrate clarified she was not asking for comments on the allegations but only assessing his comprehension. He then confirmed he understood English.
According to the charge sheet, Manjang is accused of causing the deaths of the three men by shooting them with a gun, contrary to Section 187 of the Criminal Code. Hydara, co-founder of The Point newspaper, was gunned down on 16 December 2004. The murders of Mboob and Haruna Jammeh are alleged to have taken place in 2006 in Kanilai.
Commissioner Sanneh told the court the allegations constitute capital offences that must be heard by the High Court. He applied under Section 72 of the new Criminal Offences Act to have the case transferred to the Special Criminal Division of the High Court. He also cited Section 72A and Legal Notice No. 3 of 2009 in requesting that Manjang be remanded in custody while awaiting his next court appearance.
Magistrate Mbye granted the application, stating that murder cases are beyond the authority of the Magistrates’ Court. She ordered that Manjang be transferred to the Mile 2 Central Prison and that the case proceed before the Special Criminal Division of the High Court.
A date for his next appearance is expected to be set by the High Court.
