The Gambia Press Union (GPU) notes with concerns the arrest of the Editor of Jollof News Online, Momodou Justice Darboe, on Wednesday at the Banjul Magistrates Court.<\/p>\n
Darboe was on a routine coverage of the trial of two Austrian nationals, Manuel Di Stofleth Mitterer and Angelika Mitterer, who are being tried on charges of \u201cdisobedience to lawful orders\u201d over allegations that in July 2025 \u201cthe couple refused to comply with a court directive requiring them to provide investigators access to their cryptocurrency accounts and related digital assets.\u201d<\/p>\n
On 11 March, 2026, after the court session, Darboe took a photo of the accused persons while they were leaving the courtroom.<\/p>\n
He told the GPU that he was assaulted by the police. \u201cI was attacked from behind for taking a photo of the suspects outside the courtroom,\u201d Darboe told GPU. \u201cMy phone was wrenched from my hand by the Commissioner of Police\u00a0 Prosecutions, Abdoulie Sanneh.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following the incident, Darboe said he was arrested and detained at the Police Headquarters in Banjul from around 1pm to 7pm before he was granted self-bail. He was also charged with \u201ccommon assault\u201d, a charge the Police spokesperson confirmed to GPU, was brought against him for \u201cassaulting a police officer\u201d.<\/p>\n
Darboe has denied the charge of common assault, which carries up to a one-year prison term under The Gambia\u2019s penal code. He told the GPU he could not have assaulted the officer \u201cwhile they were behind me, and as I was attacked from behind.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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