A 72-year-old, one Ebrima died while in the custody of the police on Wednesday 26 July 2017.
By Mustapha Jallow
According to a police source, on that fateful Wednesday, the Police had executed an arrest warrant for Ebrima after a report was filed to them that the said deceased has been engaging on blackmailing people.
The source added that the body was later transported to the mortuary at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul for postmortem to be taken.
However, a source says that the case is now under Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for a preliminary investigation to ascertain the cause of the death.
Faji Kunda Police Post
During a visit to the station, relatives and friends of the deceased were seen giving their statements to the CID and uniformed police officers. They told this reporter that they are not aware of anything that relates to the man’s death. Attempts to obtain information relating to Ebrima’s death from the health centre where he is said to have been pronounced dead was unsuccessful.
Police spokesperson, Inspector Foday Conta told Foroyaa that the incident started when a case was reported at Faji-Kunda Police Post by one Ahmed Samba Kah, a 21-year-old petty trader.
A dispute over money between Ebrima and Samba ensued and Samba went to the nearest Police station in Faji-kunda and reported the matter to them. He said that the police on duty went for the old man and picked him up.
"As he was waiting for the officers to obtain his statement and while interrogating him, the deceased started shaking and suddenly collapsed, then the police picked him and took him to Faji-kunda hospital. Upon arriving at the hospital, the nurse later realized that he passed away" he said.
PRO Conta said that investigation in to the matter is still going and the body is currently at the mortuary as he has no family around and the family has to give consent for a postmortem.
"We’re still waiting for the family members for a postmortem to be conducted to ascertain the cause of death," he said.
Read more: Will there be an Inquest this Time on Another Death in Police Custody? + Foroyaa-Question of the Day
WILL THERE BE AN INQUEST IN THE CASE OF EBRIMA
Foroyaa Newspaper, 03.08.2017
QUESTION OF THE DAY
Ebrima, a seventy two year old man, was arrested by the Faji Kunda police a week ago and died while in their custody. The law makes it compulsory for every death in detention or in prison to be enquired into by the Coroner. It is the Coroner that can pronounce the cause of death at the end of the Inquest. This is in accordance with the Coroner’s Act. The police are yet to make their position clear on pursuing an Inquest. Foroyaa will continue to enquire.