Three Years Jotna officials who were arrested and charged over a protest last year have vowed they are prepared to settle for Mile 2, accusing the police of trying to abuse the ‘system’ against them.

Nine top officials of the advocacy group were arrested and charged with various crimes after violent protests against President Barrow’s rule in January last year.

The officials appeared in court on Wednesday where the police said they want to withdraw the case. The officials were then allegedly re-arrested and detained at police headquarters.

Speaking from an office at the police headquarters, Yankuba Darboe one of the officials said that this should never be condoned by anybody. He called on the bar association and every conscious Gambian to stand up against this brute barbarity. To him this is nonsense, it’s an abuse of the judicial process.

According to him, they have no confidence in going to any other court with these people and the charges that they brought against them because they will abuse the process. “What they will do is bring those charges, as soon as they know they’re about to lose, they will withdraw it and be charged again.  How is anybody gonna get justice in that kind of system? If that is the system, we’re happy to be in Mile 2 and we will remain in Mile 2 until this government goes.” Said Darboe

Abdou Njie the chairman of the group added that, they never win a case because whoever they go to court with wins them.

“Gambians never learn, the police Yahya Jammeh used are the same police who are doing things and these are the people who would also say in future they were forced to do it. But the days of impunity are over. Everyone will pay for whatever you do. But we know who is behind it. It’s Mamour Jobe and the SIS director Ousman Sowe.” Mr Njie revealed.

“They brought us here and charged us again. They can do whatever they like but we’re not going to give any new statement,” Sheriffo Sonko confirmed.

By: Sainabou Jasseh