Police Officer Dodou Sanno, formerly head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Brusubi Police Station, testified in a cattle theft case involving Abdourahman Nyang. The case, heard in April 2024, concerns the alleged stealing of cattle valued at D280,000 from the Brufut area. Officer Sanno, who was attached to Brusubi Police Station at the time, recognized the accused, Abdourahman Nyang, in April 2024. Nyang is charged with cattle stealing contrary to Section 255 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 10:01, Volume I, Revised Laws of The Gambia 2009. The cattle allegedly belonged to Gibril Bah. The deceased, Doudou Bah, had reported four missing cattle in April 2024 and accused Nyang of the theft. The case has been adjourned to August 27, 2026, for the continuation of the hearing.
Investigation Details Emerge
Police arrested Abdourahman Nyang during their investigation into the alleged cattle theft. Nyang informed investigators that "three unknown cattle had gone missing but that he later found them roaming on the streets," according to testimony from Police Officer Dodou Sanno. This statement was a key part of the initial investigation. Nyang reportedly admitted to taking the cattle to his home and subsequently selling them to three butchers. Following this admission, authorities arrested the three butchers, who confirmed that Nyang had sold the cattle to them. This confirmation from the butchers corroborated aspects of Nyang's own account regarding the disposal of the animals. Officer Sanno, formerly head of the Criminal Investigation Department at Brusubi Police Station, prepared an investigation report detailing these findings. During the court proceedings, prosecuting officer Jaiteh presented this report to Officer Sanno, who then identified it as the official record of his investigative work.
Court Proceedings and Objections
Abdourahman Nyang objected to the tendering of the investigation report in court, asserting that its contents were incorrect. Nyang’s objection noted a point of contention regarding the factual accuracy of the document. Despite Nyang's objection, Magistrate Fofana admitted the investigation report into evidence as an exhibit during the proceedings. This report, identified by Police Officer Dodou Sanno, details the initial findings of the cattle theft investigation, including the statements made by Nyang and the three butchers. Before his death, Doudou Bah, who initially reported the missing cattle, had made several allegations against Nyang concerning the theft. These allegations formed the basis for the police investigation that led to Nyang's arrest and the subsequent preparation of the report. The court's decision to admit the report means it will be considered as part of the evidence in the ongoing case against Nyang, despite the accused's claims of inaccuracy. The report is now officially part of the court record.
Accused's Cross-Examination
During cross-examination, Abdourahman Nyang questioned Police Officer Dodou Sanno about his relationship with the deceased, Doudou Bah. Nyang accused Officer Sanno of being a business partner with the deceased, suggesting a potential conflict of interest or bias in the investigation. Officer Sanno, formerly head of the Criminal Investigation Department at Brusubi Police Station, firmly rejected this claim of a business partnership with Doudou Bah, maintaining his professional impartiality. Nyang further accused Officer Sanno of providing false testimony to the court and asserted that the officer possessed no knowledge regarding the specifics of the cattle theft case. These claims by Nyang were made during the ongoing legal proceedings concerning the alleged theft of cattle valued at D280,000, adding another layer of dispute to the already complex case. The cross-examination aimed to challenge the credibility of the key police witness and the integrity of the investigation itself.