Ex-Army Major talks

Major Kuluteh Manneh yesterday opened his defence in the trial involving him, former police chief Ensa Badjie and Lt. Col Mam Matarr Secka, at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul.

Manneh told the court that he was enlisted into the security services in 1986, and rose to various rank, but skipped the rank of captain, adding that he spent one year and a half in Darfur.

He said in 2008 he was sent to UK to study infantry and he came back and was resent to the UK for further studies, adding that he was never given a dismissal letter, but saw it on the Observer newspaper that he and Secka were dismissed from the force.

The case at that juncture was adjourned on the grounds that the 1st accused person, Ensa Badjie, was not feeling well.

The case now continues on 19 June 2012.      

Meanwhile, Lt. Col Mam Matarr Secka, former officer the army’s commanding transport unit and military police unit, ended his testimony under cross-examination.

Secka told the court that he was subjected to brutal torture while at the NIA, in a darkened room, but he managed to recognize two of the NIA officers who tortured him, and they were Alhagie Morr and Omar Cham.

He added that during the torture his hands were cuffed behind.

Secka also told the court that the CD was recorded by one Seedy, one of the prosecution witnesses, who testified in court, and that the apparatus were given to him by Pa Habibou Mbye.

He said the two people that they targeted were Sillaba and Ousman Bojang.