State Witness Tamsir Jassey Tells Court He Was Tortured by Sanna Manjang and Other Junglers

Written by: Mama A. Touray

A senior police official has told the Banjul High Court that he was subjected to repeated torture by former Jungler Sanna Manjang and other security officers during the rule of former president Yahya Jammeh.

Tamsir Jassey, who now serves as adviser to the Inspector General of Police, gave detailed testimony as a State witness in the ongoing trial of Manjang, a former member of the Junglers, a paramilitary unit widely accused of carrying out arrests, torture, and killings during Jammeh’s rule.

Jassey told the court that his ordeal began on March 26th 2006 at around 10pm, when he was arrested at his home by a group of military officers, including the accused. He named several individuals he said were present during his arrest, including Michael Correa, Alieu Ceesay, Musa Jammeh, and Tumbul Tamba.

He said he was initially detained at Mile Two Central Prison before being taken at around 3am to the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, headquarters in Banjul. According to his testimony, he was handed over to a group of officers dressed in black, among whom he identified Sanna Manjang.

At the NIA, Jassey said he was brought before a panel of intelligence officers who questioned him about an alleged coup linked to Colonel Ndure Cham. He described the interrogation as chaotic, saying multiple officers asked questions at the same time and often did not wait for answers.

Jassey told the court that he admitted to knowing that a coup had been discussed but said he had no detailed knowledge of any plan. He said he was then instructed to write a statement and was told what to include. When he asked for legal representation and mentioned lawyer Mariama Denton, he said she was later arrested and taken to Mile Two.

He further testified that the then Director of the NIA warned him he would be “dealt with” if he refused to cooperate. He said he heard screams from other rooms, which he believed were from detainees being tortured, and decided to comply out of fear.

Jassey said he was later taken back to the NIA and told that former president Jammeh would drop the case against them if they agreed to go on national television, admit involvement in the alleged coup, and ask for forgiveness. He said he and others were recorded making statements they were instructed to give before being returned to Mile Two.

He told the court that the torture began shortly after. He described how he was taken from his cell in handcuffs and forced to pass through a line of officers who beat, kicked, and struck him with rifle butts before he was transported back to the NIA. He said Sanna Manjang was among the officers involved.

At the NIA, Jassey said he was again beaten for several hours, suffering injuries to his face, arms, and back. He added that prison officers later attempted to provide medical care, but were stopped by the officers who brought him in.

He described another incident in which a plastic bag was placed over his head while he was beaten. He said he managed to create small holes in the bag to breathe and was able to see those present, again identifying Manjang among the group.

Jassey also told the court that during one encounter, an officer pointed a loaded pistol at him and threatened to kill him while he was being held by Manjang. He said the assault continued before he was returned to Mile Two, where he was again denied medical treatment.

He said the torture eventually stopped after he managed to pass a message through another detainee to the then United States ambassador. He later heard that the ambassador had raised concerns with Jammeh’s government, though he said he could not confirm whether that directly led to the end of the abuse.

Jassey testified that he remained in detention until he was later released and taken out of the country. He said he was eventually reunited with his family and travelled to the United States.

He returned to The Gambia after the change of government in 2017 and currently serves as adviser to the Inspector General of Police.

In his final remarks before cross examination, Jassey told the court, “I am glad to be alive.”

The case was adjourned for the fourth and fifth prosecution witnesses to testify.