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Momodou
Denmark
11734 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Mar 2007 : 02:49:22
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AT THE COURT MARTIAL
“I WAS ESCORTED BY MASKED SOLDIERS” - LIEUTENANT SANYANG
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
Continued from: http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3209
Second Lieutenant Pharing Sanyang of The Gambia Armed Forces has revealed to the court martial that he was escorted by soldiers who wore black uniforms (in a robot style) with masks over their heads on the day of his arrest.
Narrating further, 2nd Lieutenant Sanyang indicated that the members of the group wore black knee guards and black gloves. He said they were armed with PGL, AK47 rifles, pistols with bayonets hanging on their waists. When asked whether he was able to recognise any of them, and how did he recognise them, he responded that they were members of Malick Jatta’s group. He added that since he trained most of them, it was easy for him to recognise them through their voices, their sizes and the way they walked.
Going further, Sanyang pointed out that when he was taken to Mile Two Prison, the authorities there searched and took his valuables from him. He said the items included a mobile phone, gold plated wrist watch, silver chain, two silver rings, bronze ring, beret, combat boots, pair of socks and three hundred and fifty dalasi(D350) cash. He indicated that he marched barefoot to security wing number five (5) where he was locked up; that the handcuff was removed before he entered the cell, adding, “But for almost one hour and forty five minutes I was in handcuff.” He said that a prison guard pointed to a bucket and said it is his toilet and a concrete slap as a bed. Lieutenant Sanyang explained that during his encounter with Malick Jatta he sustained injures on his head and a broken tooth and that he was later taken to the polyclinic to remove the remaining tooth. He said he was taken to the polyclinic on the 6th April 2006 when his gum started developing holes. He said that he appealed to Lieutenant Colley to take him to hospital to uproot the remaining tooth. He said that he was attended by one doctor, called Emmanuel. Sanyang also said that he gave his torn and blood stained uniform to his wife who in turn handed it to his counsel. “But my lawyer later told me that his office was broken into and the uniform was stolen,” he said.
Defence counsel Lamin K. Mboge asked the court’s permission for the examination of his clients claims of injuries on him and to show the court the space in his gum where his tooth was uprooted. He was then examined on different occasions by both the panel and the prosecution. His hand and head were also examined. 2nd Lieutenant Sanyang noted that when he sustained the injuries on his head, Lieutenant Colley later asked him what had happened to him and he said he told him that he was beaten. “Colley told me he will go to state house to lodge complaint, because I am not the type to be beaten like this,” Pharing said. Continuing his narration, Lieutenant Sanyang said that the day he was taken to the NIA to appear before the Television, WO2 Nfally Jabang asked him to speak to the Gambian people. “I told him I have nothing to tell them, all of a sudden Colonel Tamba came in and asked them, how can you put this man before the TV with those plasters and wounds on his head ?” he asked. He added that the TV recording was cancelled, but he was asked to read his statement in order for it to be recorded on tape. Lieutenant Sanyang concluded by saying that he knew Tijan Bojang (the independent witness) personally. Tijan was not present when he made this statement. See next issue for cross examination of the witness by DPP.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 025/2007, 2-4 March, 2007
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