When the asked whether he recognised Sanna Manjang, Tamsir Jassey responded affirmatively, and told the court that on the 26th of March, 2006, he was arrested by a team of military personnel from the Gambia Armed Forces. Jassey said he was taken to the Mile 2 Central Prison, and among those who arrested him was Sanna Manjang. He said that was his first encounter with him.
“Others present included Michael Correa, Malick Jatta, Alieu Ceesay, Sanna Manjang, Musa Jammeh, and Tumbul Tamba. I remember them because I interacted with them during that period,” Jassey told the court.
Jassey testified that he was detained at Mile 2 at around 10:00 p.m, and at about 3:00 a.m, he was taken from his cell by one Omar Colley and handed over to military personnel dressed in black, including Sanna Manjang.
Jassey told the court that he was then taken to the NIA, and at the NIA, he was brought before a panel of military officers. He further told the court that the panel was disorganised.
“Questions were asked rapidly, often without allowing me to answer—most of the questions related to the alleged coup attempt carried out by Colonel Ndure Cham. I was asked about my involvement. I stated that I was not aware of the details,” Jassey testified.
Jassey testified that he was instructed to write a statement, but he instead requested a lawyer and identified Lawyer Denton, who was later arrested and taken to Mile 2.
Jassey told the court that he initially refused to write a statement, but then heard screams from other rooms, indicating that people were being tortured. Out of fear, he then agreed to write the statement. Jassey said he was later returned to the Mile 2 Central Prison.
“Later that same day, I was again taken to the NIA by the same team. I was given a document containing alterations to my earlier statement and then returned to Mile 2. The next day, I was again taken to the NIA,” he testified.
Jassey informed the court that the late Musa Jammeh told him President Jammeh would drop charges if they agreed to confess to the coup on national TV and ask for forgiveness. Failure to comply would lead to consequences. Jassey said they were taken to speak on camera as instructed, then returned to Mile 2.
Around 3:00 a.m. that night, Jassey was removed from his cell, beaten by officers including Sanna Manjang, and taken to the NIA where he was beaten again, sustaining injuries. He was denied medical treatment back at Mile 2.
Jassey testified he was beaten multiple times, including with a banana branch, and threatened with a pistol. He was held with other detainees like Alieu Ceesay and Alieu Lowe. He was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment in hard labour.
After serving 6 years and 6 months, Jassey heard on radio that a U.S. delegation secured his release. He was given a presidential pardon, flown to the U.S. with his family, and later returned to The Gambia in 2017 to serve in the police again.
