UDP on Sunday called torture claims against anti-crime chief Gorgi Mboob ‘wanton’ cruelty reminiscent of some of the witness testimonies from the TRRC.
Mr Mboob has come under massive condemnation following allegations of torture levelled against him by 26-year-old Ebrima Sanneh. Mr Mboob allegedly beat Sanneh on his genitals while the latter was detained at anti-crime in Bijilo.
Gambia Police Force then on Saturday faced the full fury of a cross-section of Gambians after it insisted the torture never happened.
UDP reacting to the issue in a statement signed by party leader Ousainou Darboe on Sunday said: “The United Democratic Party has observed with utter dismay the conduct of the Gambia Police Force Anti-Crime Unit. That extremely serious allegations of torture and police brutality have been levelled against Mr. GorgI Mboob by Ebrima Sanneh. Mr. Mboob the Head of the Anti-Crime Unit allegedly hit Mr. Sanneh on his genitals leaving him with severe pains without any arrests or investigations. This type of wanton cruelty is reminiscent of some of the witness testimonies from the TRRC.
“The UDP vehemently condemns the alleged acts police brutality, personally meted out by the Head of the Anti-Crime Unit, Mr. Gorgi Mboob in the presence of witnesses thereafter offer an apology to the Victim Mr. Sanneh again in the presence of witnesses. Senior police officers are supposed to protect the citizens from crimes and not be perpetrators of crimes themselves and like any other citizens of the Gambia the GPF is not above the law.
“Therefore, the UDP calls on the IGP & the Hon. Minister of Interior to investigate this matter urgently and thoroughly. As in all cases of serious criminal allegations, the person suspected of committing an offence must be arrested immediately thereafter the Police can determine whether to grant bail or not. Without swift action on the part of the IGP in this matter, the Gambia Police Force will lose any credibility it still has with Gambian people. Without a proper investigation in these serious allegation the Gambia Police Force will damage its reputation further and that the GPF has not significantly changed since the ousting of the dictator in 2016.”
