Basse High Court on Monday held two officers of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) responsible for murder of 30-year-old Dembo Sibi in Numuyel village, in rural-Upper River Region.
Justice Nkea has found Modou Colley and Bakary Demba guilty while Babucarr Fatty and Babucarr Jobe, who had been linked to the murder, were acquitted and discharged.
Survived by a wife and four children, Dembo Sibi met his tragic death on Friday January 28, following a severe torture unleashed on him by the state security men stationed at the village.
The PIU personnel claimed that Mr Sibi has stolen a motor bike in the village, according to the villagers.
But the owner of the said motorbike said, he let Mr Sibi use his motor bike.
And yet, the security men took the law into their own hands and even requested a bribe of D3, 000 from late Dembo’s poor ailing father, who could afford only D1, 500 which was rejected by the security men, family sources alleged.
They were arraigned for murder at the magistrates’ court in Banjul, but the case was transferred to Basse – the ‘proper jurisdiction’ - in February 2011.
Defense lawyer, N. Gbuji pleaded with the judge to exercise mercy on the young officers who have family responsibilities.
Notwithstanding, the judge sentenced them to death.