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Momodou
Denmark
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 Posted - 15 Nov 2006 : 12:56:03
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BUNJA DARBOE AND CO TRIAL
Captain Wassa Camara Testified
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
At the court martial at Yundum Barracks, the trial within a trial continues to determine whether Captain Wassa Wassa Camara's cautionary and voluntarily statements should be admitted in evidence or not. Three witnesses have testified for the prosecution to prove that the statements were made voluntarily in the presence of an independent witness after the Captain, Wassa Camara, was cautioned. On Thursday, Captain Wassa Camara entered the witness box to prove that the statements were not made voluntarily and are therefore not admissible. In the last issue we started with the testimony of Captain Wassa Camara and now continue with it. According to Captain Wassa Camara, late in the morning of 22nd March, WO2 Colley, now a Lieutenant, came with some officers from The Gambia Armed Forces who were all dressed in camouflage. He said, he could recognise one Malick Jatta and Mustapha Sanneh including some other officers. He said he heard Lieutenant Colley saying, "Open the cell, Captain Camara is here." He added that, when the cell was opened, Lieutenant Colley then handcuffed him at his back noting that he was moved into the conference hall. He said, he was blind folded and two soldiers held him by the hand, lifted him and dumped him in a car. He said he thought he was going to be killed but he was taken to the NIA complex. He added that at the NIA, he was asked to follow them up to the reception. He said, he met several soldiers in camouflage and in black uniform armed with individual weapons like AK47 rifles, PGL, RPG7. He noted that the black uniform material is different from that of the Police Interventions Unit (PIU). "That was the first time I saw that black uniform," he said. He stated that he was taken to an office where he met WO2 Tumbul Tamba, Lance Corporal Malick Jatta, Mustapha Sanneh, Abdoulie Sowe, and others whom he did not recognise. According to him, they told him that they did not take him there for a joke; that he had to choose between death or to be in Mile Two Prison. He said, he was told that Captain Seckan had told them that he is part of the abortive coup. He said he replied that he did not know about anything and, so could not be part of it. "They said to me, death or alive, choose one." He said at that juncture, Mustapha Sanneh, butted him on his back and he fell on the floor still in handcuff. He said he was severely beaten. He said some of them used their rifles to hit him while others kicked him. He said some of them stamped him. He explained that WO2 Tumbul Tamba said to him that they are not joking with him. "I said again, how can I be part of something I don't know about." He said, WO2 Tamba then ordered Mustapha Sanneh and Ousman Jatta to stand by and that all of them cocked their rifles. "They said to me, this is your final warning, if you don't accept that, you are part of it, you will be killed instantly. Then I complied. He pointed out that he sustained a cut on his knee, buttocks, a wound on his leg and on his back. He said he is feeling pain on his chest and sides. He said after he complied he was taken to the reception and later to Mile Two.
He said in the morning of 22nd March, Lieutenant Colley, with other soldiers including prison wardens, came and took him to the reception and then to the NIA. He said that time, he was not blindfolded. He said at the NIA, the soldiers were at the same place armed with weapons of all kinds. He asserted that along the corridor and on the ladder leading to the stairs, soldiers were standing everywhere with their weapons. He said at the panel, Colonel Lang Tombong Tamba and IGP Major Ousman Sonko were seated at the extreme end of the panel with some armed soldiers. He added that, one Lieutenant Mathew, Lieutenant Musa Jammeh and WO2 Tumbul Tamba were all present. He also added that, the panelists were, Hydara, Abdoulie Sowe, Lamin Cham, Ceesay and others whom he cannot recall. He pointed out that Abdoulie Sowe told him not to forget about his compliance of the previous night and that the instruction remains the same. He noted that, Sowe brought a piece of paper for him and told him that, those written words are what he had said earlier. He said, at that juncture, one Baba Saho, an NIA officer, came and gave him a hard slap, saying to him, "You are an intelligent officer, but you either comply or we kill you here. He added that, Abdoulie Sowe, also reminded him that there is no joke there and asked him to look on the table. He said, on the table, there was a broken tooth, a hammer and blood stains. He said he was warned to be careful because some people were there before him and that those things on the table are examples. He pointed out that, Abdoulie Sowe was ordered to record his statement and he was taken to another office, with Sowe, Private Demba in camouflage, Mustapha Sanneh in black uniform and another soldier in camouflage. He said all of them were State Guard. He said that Mustapha Sanneh told him, "Look Camara, we are batch mates, but today will be your last day." He said, Sowe brought some forms and writing papers and asked him to copy exactly from that paper. He said after he had copied and signed, Lamin Cham came in and told Sowe that the independent witness will not be a problem because he had called somebody to come on 23rd March. He said he was later taken to the reception by Private Demba and others, where he was handcuffed and he joined a vehicle.
He said he met WO2 Alpha Bah with his hand handcuffed at his back and they were taken back to Mile Two. He narrated that on the 23rd March, he was blindfolded, handcuffed and taken to the NIA complex. Upon arrival at the NIA, he said, he was taken to the conference hall, where he met the same officers, IGP and the CDS. He said, as he was seated an armed officer at the entrance of the hall behind him cocked his gun while he was answering questions. Captain Camara said he was told to accept that he was discussing certain issues with Captain Yaya Darboe and that he is his friend. Camara said he told them that, Yaya is not his friend but that they only know each other in the job. He said one of them told him he and Yaya attended the same training in Ghana. "Then one of them struck me with the butt of a gun and I fell on the floor, they started kicking me at my sides, but Colonel Tamba ordered them to stop." He said he was told to accept that he had certain discussions with Captain Yaya Darboe. "Then one of the soldiers told me, Captain Camara, do you forget what we told you, comply or die instantly." He added that, the soldier behind him cocked his gun and a live round fell from the chamber of the gun and that soldier held the round and showed it to him. The Soldier told him that they were not joking to him, and told him that they are not joking. He said he then accepted and that WO2 Tamba and others were ordered to take him to the reception and then to Mile Two Prison. According to him, on the 24th March, Lieutenant Colley and others opened his cell, handcuffed him and he was escorted by state guards to the NIA. He said he was taken to the room where the panelists were seated and that he was subjected to the same questions he was asked the previous nights. He pointed out that he was tortured before Sowe was asked to record his statement, this time, in a different office. He said, he was with Sowe, Private Demba and other soldiers, and all of them were in camouflage and had weapons. He said Sowe then brought papers and asked him to fill his name. He said Sowe brought other papers and told him that they were the seven (7) Statements, of Captain Yaya Darboe. He said Sowe told him he had nothing to do, but to comply. He said he wrote his statement and signed it. He said, he heard Sowe saying "The independent witness will be here." He said, he only saw the witness in the court when he testified. He said in the morning of the 26th March, he was taken to the NIA complex in handcuffs and taken to where the panelists usually sit. He said upon arrival at the panel, he was surprised to find a "Television man" seated where the accused person normally sits. He said, he was ordered to sit opposite, facing the "TV man." He said, after the recording, he was taken back to Mile Two.
He explained that, on the 27th March, at night at around 11 pm, he was taken to the NIA complex. He said, he spent about two hours at the reception before he was taken before the panel. He said, he was again asked about certain questions pertaining to Captain Yaya Darboe's statement. He said, he was then moved to the reception, where he met a soldier who was dressed in black materials who said to him, "You are the officers we are looking for." He noted that, before he uttered a word, Corporal Malick Jatta slapped him. He said, the other soldier held his head and started to knock it against the wall. He said he was still in handcuffs, and that soldier continuously hit his head against the wall until he was bleeding. He said, he was so weak that, the soldier squeezed him behind a table. He pointed out that, Malick Jatta took him away from that soldier and suddenly, Malick Jatta kicked his leg off the ground and he fell on the floor on his chest. "I was then beaten mercilessly and I was bleeding from all parts of my head, mouth, buttocks and legs." He asserted that Mustapha Sanneh stamped him and told him, "Look Camara, we did not yet finish with you." He said WO2 Tumbul Tamba, ordered them to stop beating him. He added that, Sowe was ordered to record his statement at the early hours of the morning of the 28th March, 2006. He said, he was with Sowe and two armed officers who were dressed in camouflage. He pointed out that, before he could write his statement, he was confronted with Captain Yaya Darboe's statement. He said they asked him how many marabouts he has and whether he has informed them prior to the coup. He said he told them that he used to have one marabout, but as at the time of the interview he had three but he denied having informed any of them about the coup. He lamented that he was later taken back to Mile Two. He said at Mile Two Colley and another soldier took him out of the vehicle he said he was unable to walk because of the beatings. He said his handcuff was loosened, noting Colley helped him to sit down and he was searched. He said, he was later dumped in his cell. He said Lieutenant Colley tried to help him with a mosquito net, but a soldier asked Colley to let him die. He said in the early morning, senior prison officers, including prison Director, David Colley, came to see his condition. He said, they sympathised with him, but they could not do much. He added that, after the officers left, a medical officer, dressed in white came and gave him paracetamol, shaved his head, dressed his wounds, applied ink to the bruises on his face and he undressed to treat the wound on his buttocks and the legs. He narrated that after almost two weeks, he was complaining of his health to Lieutenant Colley and prison officers. He said an Egyptian doctor from the RVTH was later brought to attend to him. He added that the medical doctor attached to the prison visited him from time to time. He explained that from March to May, he had complained about his health and that, he has informed Lieutenant Colley, Alieu Ceesay, who are in charge of their security, the prison doctor and others about it. He said it was not until in June, when he was taken to RVTH and was treated by a doctor, but that, he could not identify the doctor who attended to him on the ward he was taken to. He added that he was given prescription papers which he gave it to Corporal Wharf to give it to his wife. He said, his wife told him, that she gave it to his brother Alassana Boto Camara to buy the prescribe drugs. He added that his brother bought the drugs and gave both drugs and prescription paper to Corporal Wharf. He said, after taking those drugs, he felt a little relieved. He added that he was taken to RVTH by two soldiers with a medical personnel from Mile Two. He said, the Egyptian doctor told him to be referred back to him if he has another problem. He lamented that, he made another complaint to the authorities but before he was taken to the Eygptian doctor, it took another two months. He admitted that, he was later taken to the doctor and he complained of dizziness, pain at his back and sides. He said it was on a Friday, and they were told that it was late but they could go back on Monday. He complained that, he was never taken back to the hospital again, even though, he complained to Lieutenant Colley and the medical Sergeant at Mile Two. He narrated that last week he told Corporal Wharf and medical Sergeant even though, he could take his medical papers to court, they could take him to the hospital and also to keep his prescription and reference papers. He said that he was told those are for their files. Captain Camara concluded by saying that he had never experienced dizziness, or pain at his back and sides, saying "I was very strong." He added that he had never set eyes on the two independent witnesses, Tijan Bojang and Babou Loum. "I first saw them at the court in the witness box," he concluded.
At that juncture, Lamin Jobarteh, the defence counsel, wanted the accused person to show the court the wound or scars on him, even if he is to be undressed before the court. But the Judge advocate, Justice Agim, ruled that undressing the accused in Public is a violation of his rights of privacy and his human dignity. He then decided that, the matter will be addressed after the sitting of the court.
Cross Examination by DPP, Emmanuel Fagbenle
Emmanuel Fagbenle asked him whether he believed Ndure Cham was involved in a coup plot or whether he believed there was a coup attempt. He replied that he did not believe Ndure Cham was planning a coup nor was there any coup plot. Fagbenle asked him, which time he was arrested, what time he arrived at Mile Two and what time was he taken to the NIA. Captain Camara replied that he was arrested between 11 pm and 12 pm, but could not tell which exact time he arrived at Mile Two, but that he was taken to NIA in the early hours of 22nd March. Mr Fagbenle asked him, how long did it take him to write his statement and whether he wrote anything on his statement on the 23rd and the 24th March. Camara replied that he could not tell how long it took him to write his statement and that he made a record of what they asked him to write. The DPP asked him, whether he chose the option of life and whether, he wrote that he was innocent. Captain Camara replied that he chose to live than to die, and that he could not write that he was innocent because he was told to accept the instruction or die. DPP asked him whether, he had a meeting with anybody. He replied in the negative. The DPP asked "Did that mean you are innocent?" He replied, "Very well." Fagbenle, asked him whether he had said on the TV that he was forced and tortured to make his statement. He replied that, he was ordered to say that he was not forced or tortured or else he would be killed. He was asked, whether, when he was being recorded on the TV there were security personnel present, he replied, that there were several of them, including IGP Major Sonko and CDS Colonel Tamba. He said he was directed to repeat what he was forced to say in his statement. The DPP asked him whether it is correct that, he carefully explained on TV about his knowledge and involvement in the coup, Camara replied that, he said exactly what he was instructed to say and that if he deviated from what they wanted him to say he would be killed. Fagbenle asked whether it was true that he had an accident while on duty at the provinces and was admitted at Bansang Hospital, he replied that that was true. He also asked him whether it was true that he once had a fight with one Sergeant Barry, he replied, "That was not a fight but a struggle." Fagbenle asked him, if he is the head of the Military Police, he replied that he is not presently, but he was the head.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 99/2006, 13-14 November, 2006
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