Photos of Injuries Admitted as Evidence After Cook Narrates Hot Oil Assault in Court
Lady Justice Banjul The Gambia © Askanwi
By Fatoumata Jaiteh
The court case in which a cook, Mam Jarra Jarjue, was allegedly burnt in the face with hot oil proceeded at the Kanifing Magistrate on Monday, 16th February 2026, where she recounted the injuries she sustained. After her narration, the prosecutor submitted photographs of her injuries showing burns all over her face, ears and mouth as evidence to the court.
The trial of Jainaba Faye, accused of pouring hot oil on her cook, Mam Jarra Jarjue, continued before Magistrate A. Manneh.
The case of The Inspector General of Police vs Jainaba Faye involves an alleged hot oil assault that occurred on 20th January 2026, at a food stall in Bakoteh.
“The victim, Mam Jarra Jarjue, testified that a disagreement over the reduced price of a stuffed pie led to rising tensions between her and the accused. The dispute reportedly escalated after accusations of theft and verbal insults. Jarjue told the court that as she entered a room to count sales money, Faye allegedly poured hot oil on her face using a plastic bowl.”
When the case was called, the complainant, Mam Jarra Jarjue, took the witness stand and narrated the events following the alleged hot assault. She told the court that after the accused splashed hot oil on her face, she was rushed to the Kanifing General Hospital for urgent medical attention.
“I was taken to the emergency unit but later admitted to the surgical unit. When I was discharged, that’s when I went to the police,” she testified.
According to her, she reported the matter to the police on 22nd January 2026. She further informed the court that she later accompanied officers to obtain a medical certificate documenting her injuries.
During the proceedings, the prosecution presented the medical report to the complainant for identification. Jarjue confirmed that she recognised the document as the medical certificate issued following her treatment. However, when the document was shown to the accused, Jainaba Faye reportedly stated that she had never seen the report before.
Describing the extent of her injuries, Ma’am Jarra told the court that her face, ear, and mouth were burnt as a result of the incident. She highlighted that while at the hospital, she asked someone to take photographs of her injuries.
“My face got burnt, my ear and mouth. When I was at the hospital, I told someone to take a picture of my wounds for me. I took the pictures at the hospital,” she explained.
The photographs were shown to the accused in court, and she was asked whether she had any objection to their admission into evidence. The images were subsequently tendered and admitted as exhibits.
When asked by the prosecution about her current condition, the complainant stated that she continues to experience pain. She told the court that her face remains swollen, bears visible scars, and still causes her discomfort.
