AT THE COURT MARTIAL

CAPTAIN DARBOE ALLEGES SEVERE TORTURE

By Bubacarr K. Sowe, FOROYAA

Captain Bunja Darboe, the first accused person in the general court martial on the March 21st Coup Plot on Wednesday 3rd of January told the court that he had gone through severe beatings at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

Captain Darboe recalled the 25th of March 2006 about 15:00 hours when he was picked up by people in a black uniform, who started slapping and kicking him before taking him to the NIA headquarters in Banjul. He said that prison officers at Mile 2 Central Prisons where he is in custody had to intervene, telling them to kill him outside but not inside the prison campus.

He testified that as he alighted from a vehicle at the NIA, the men in black uniform continued the onslaught on him. According to him, as they were climbing the stairs, he was pushed and he fell down while still hand cuffed. Darboe said he battled to rise amidst continuing beatings and reached the corridor where his leg was kicked and he fell down again, causing him a fracture on his left wrist. Captain Darboe informed the court that he was taken to the minor theatre at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) where his fractured wrist was straightened and bandaged. He said that after two weeks it was put on a pop (plaster). He also said he visited the physiotherapy where his hand was treated and he was given a brace and asked to report every Thursday, which was only honoured twice by those keeping him in custody.

Continuing his testimony, Captain Bunja Darboe said that on the 6th of April, 2006, together with Captain Yaya Darboe (second accused), he was taken to the NIA around midnight by men in black uniform. On arrival, he said, he was escorted to the back of the building by Lieutenant Musa Jammeh where they ordered him to kneel down. Darboe alleged that they wore a black plastic bag on his head and tied it, thus he could hardly breath. He said among those he recognised were Sergeant Borra Colley, Corporal Nuha Badjie, W1 Tumbul Tamba and, Lieutenant Alagie Martin and Musa Jammeh who were wearing Camouflage uniform.

Eventually, Captain Darboe said, he tore the plastic bag from his face so that he could breath, but that it was replaced immediately. There, he added, Musa Jammeh asked him which country is sponsoring the coup. He said he replied that he had no knowledge of that. According to him, they resumed beating him with sticks while the bag was worn over his head. “I started crying, till I could not cry anymore. I was lying on the ground and they were just beating me like a dead snake. Lieutenant Musa Jammeh told them to stop. He asked me certain questions again, I was so weak I could not talk properly and could not respond. Then he told them take me outside and finish me,” Darboe narrated. He said he was later dragged to a dark corner and asked by a soldier to say his last prayers since he was going to die. He added that they continued to beat him. He said he was then forced to amend his statement as they wanted it to be in line with what Lieutenant Dem and Captain Seckan told them. He said he did not amend it that day but did so on the 22nd of June, 2006.

Captain Darboe told the court martial that shortly after his arrest on the night of the 22nd of March, 2006, he was whisked from his cell and taken to the NIA. He said as he came out of the car, a soldier kicked him with combat boots on his lower abdomen, resulting in severe pain. He said he was taken to the conference hall where he met one Mr. Hydara, Lieutenant Alagie Martin who were later joined by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Colonel Lang Tombong Tamba and the then Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ousman Sonko. According to him, Colonel Tamba told him that Ex-CDS, Colonel Ndure Cham, is already arrested and he (Cham) had informed them that he (Captain Darboe) was part of the coup. “He said it will be wise if I admit being part of it,” he recalled. He narrated that after refusing to answer Tamba’s question, Lieutenant Alagie Martin came over him, tore his shirt, and threatened to deal with him severely.

At that juncture, he requested to talk to his wife for her to arrange for a lawyer to see him. He said he talked to his wife but did not have access to a lawyer. According to Darboe, Tamba told him that he knew something about the coup, since he was Colonel Cham’s assistant. He denied knowing anything about a coup, though he knows Cham. He also said that he was asked by Mr. Hydara for the names of soldiers who had been visiting Cham’s office between January and March 2006. An instruction to arrest those officers he said was made and some were arrested. Darboe said he was forced to make a statement saying that he was part of it otherwise he would be killed. Captain Darboe said he was asked to recopy his statement of 22nd of March 2006 by Assistant Superintendent Modou Lamin Ceesay. And Darboe said he complied since there was nothing he could do.

CROSS EXAMINATION

 In a cross-examination by the prosecutor Emmanuel Fagbenle, he said on the 25th of March, 2006, he wrote a statement at the NIA that was to be read over the radio.

In an earlier testimony, Corporal Bakary Wharf Kujabi, a Prison Medical Officer at the Mile 2 Central Prisons identified three X-ray films and a medical folder of Captain Bunja Darboe. He said that the exhibits were issued to Captain Darboe. Corporal Kujabi said he was present when the films were made. He identified the images, indicating,“ It’s the wrist on the left hand of Darboe.”

In a cross examination with the prosecutor, Kujabi said Darboe complained to him that his hand was paining. Kujabi said after examining it they found that it was swollen and referred him to the RVTH, since he was not a bone specialist.