Yankuba Touray has been undergoing trial at the High Court in Banjul on charges of killing Ex-finance Minister Ousman Koro Ceesay in 1995. The charred body of the former finance minister was found in his official car in the then desolate Jambur road.
Some former members of the junta have been linked to the suspected murder and this was why when Yankuba Touray went to the TRRC in 2019 with the public expectation that he would shed light on the matter, many were thrilled at the prospect. But the apparent recalcitrant Touray refused to heed several entreaties from TRRC staff to render account of the issue and other related matters.
Yankuba Touray insisted that he was blanketed by a constitutional immunity and therefore, not liable for any legal responsibility that may have arisen as part of his functions as junta member.
His refusal to give testimony to the TRRC on a range of issues led to his arrest and detention at the State Central Prison in Banjul.
Yankuba Touray was subsequently charged with the murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay and has since being undergoing trial. His trial was marked by a lengthy argument over the constitutionality of his immunity claim.
The state assembled a studded legal team with high-profile lawyers such as the former minister of justice Abubakarr Baa Tambadou.
The team, led by Ex-justice Minister Tambadou, strongly argued that Yankuba Touray cannot arrogate to himself what the constitution has not. This was followed by counter-arguments from defense lawyers led by Abdoulie Sisoho.
The deadlock was smashed when trial judge Justice Ebrima Ba Jaiteh ruled that Yankuba Touray should indeed stand trial for the alleged murder of Ousman Koro Ceesay. Some shocking disclosures were made in the ensuing murder trial.
Yankuba Touray and his former Kerr Serign residence were alleged to be at the heart of the operations to kill Ousman Koro Ceesay.
Koro was allegedly hit with a pestle-like object at Yankuba Touray’s residence and later dumped in the quiet vicinity of Jambur. He has denied any culpability in the murder and after many months of trial, his fate is expected to be decided on Wednesday.