Lamin Fatty’s Family Urges Swiss Authorities to Explain Cause of Death
Wednesday, 01. November 2017
The late Lamin Fatty was born in Salikeneh in Baddibou Central, North Bank Region and raised in Serrekunda.
According to family sources, the deceased has some health problems and many believed that he is suffering from epilepsy.
However, this can only be confirmed by a medical report or an autopsy.
Speaking to Mamos TV in a telephone interview, a very close family member of the deceased who wants to remain anonymous said the Swiss authorities have a question to answer and they must explain why our son died in custody.
He said: "My assumption is that he was either malhandled by the police as alleged by many or he didn't take his medication when he was arrested and he ceased. In fact he did not get any attention while he was in the cell and he died."
He added that there is no reason why he should die in the hands of the police and the Swiss authorities must explain.
The late Lamin Fatty was in Italy for almost two years before he moved to Switzerland.
In Swiss, he was mistakenly arrested for his namesake (also a Gambian) who's asylum case was rejected based on the EU Dublin Regulation and was supposed to be sent back to Italy by the police.
According to family sources, the late Lamin Fatty was undergoing medical treatment in Swiss and had performed a surgery recently.
News of his death was also published in the Swiss newspaper called "Le Matin" and this prompted Gambians in Switzerland and some human rights defenders to protest against police brutality on immigrants and refugees.
Saikou Ceesay, spokesperson of the The Gambia's Foreign Affairs ministry has also confirmed that the Gambia government is aware of the unfortunate incident and they are making efforts to get the death body back home soon.
He added that the Swiss authorities are investigating the matter.