Five NDEA Officers Arrested for ‘Murder’

The Daily Observer (Banjul)

Omar Wally

19 May 2011

Five operatives of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) have been arrested for allegedly causing the death of one Cherno Alieu Suwareh.

Ebou Lowe, Eku PL Grant, Abdoulie MK Jallow, Matarr Conteh and Modou C Jaw are currently in custody and helping the police in their investigations. Confirming this to our reporter Wednesday at the Police headquarters in Banjul, ASP Yerro Mballow, the Police public relations officer (PRO) said the incident happened on Friday 25th March 2011, when the accused persons raided Suwareh Kunda, a compound situated at Bakau Sanchaba. “During the raid, the NDEA officers arrested one Cherno Alieu Suwareh, commonly known as ‘Cher boy’ whose house was searched and some suspected quantity of Cannabis sativa was recovered,” he said.

According to the Police PRO, during the raid the late Suwareh had a confrontation with the officers as a result of which he was physically assaulted. He said the narcotics officers hit Suwareh’s head on the wall, which resulted to injuries on his forehead. “Eye witnesses also revealed that the narcotics officers used baton to beat the deceased. The deceased was then arrested and taken to Banjul NDEA charge office where he was detained,” ASP Mballow explained.

He further stated that on Monday the 4th April 2011 while Suwareh was under detention, he was reported sick and narcotics officers on duty rushed him to the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) where he was admitted. “Eleven days later, that is on Thursday, 15 April 2011, Cherno Alieu Suwareh was pronounced dead,” the Police PRO added.

He said that the accused persons are charged with two counts, which according to him, are: Conspiracy to commit murder contrary to Section 204 of the Criminal Code Cap 10, 01; and murder, contrary to Section 187 of the Criminal Code, Volume 3 Laws of The Gambia.

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