Famous comedian Alhagie Bora Sisawo has filed a civil lawsuit in the High Court of Banjul against the Attorney General, Minister of Justice, Inspector General of Police, and alleges that his detention violated his constitutional rights as guaranteed by the 1997 Constitution.
Alhagie Bora is also requesting a court order allowing him to be freed from detention in exchange for signing a promise to appear in court on any charge (or charges) brought against him, with or without the provision of sureties.
According to an affidavit signed by a member of Alhagie Bora’s family, he was initially detained on August 13, 2023, at the Kairaba police station. He was held there until August 15, after which he began reporting for bail on a regular basis on August 16.
The affidavit also said that Alhagie Bora’s bail was cancelled, he was remanded in jail incommunicado without contact to his family, and the IGP had summoned him to report the next day, on October 4, 2023.
Alhagie Bora is now seeking a court ruling that his ongoing incarceration is illegal and a violation of his basic rights since, despite being held in several detention facilities, he has never been charged with a crime.
Bora spent a week in custody before being freed a few days ago.