Mr. Jah who has so far served 11 years in prison, explained that he was first placed at the Security Wing for one month 18 days before he was convicted, saying the conditions were not good.
He told the commission that the Security Wing was tight and there was not enough ventilation. He said that he stayed there for two years before he was convicted on four counts; ranging from stealing, rape and attempted stealing, leading to his life imprisonment.
"I was later moved to the main yard but the conditions were not better because it was over crowded. My first three years in the prison was better because I was employed as an assistant medic to help the sick persons."
He added that during Jammeh's time, the food was bad and that food such as pap used to cause beriberi.
Jah said he was once beaten by Ebrima Jammeh alias ‘chief torturer’ in connection with cannabis that was found with a prisoner who alleged that he (Jah) gave to him.
The witness alleged that the soldiers used to supply cannabis to the prisoners.
He added that he was beaten several times without telling him his crime.
"Ebrima Joof was stamped by an officer, Chief Kalilu from the yard and brought to the confinement. He was later taken out and after two days, we heard the information that he died. Musa Bah was also beaten seriously."
A Gambian teenager, Ousman Ceesay, is seeking assistance from The Gambia government, NGOs and other philanthropists to cater for medical expenses following months of his imprisonment by Senegalese authorities in Ziguinchor.
Veteran Lawyer Fafa Edrissa Mbai in his third day of testimony before the TRRC, reiterated that during the 22 years of former President Yahya Jammeh’s rule, unlawful dismissals of magistrate and judges were the order of the day.
African Descendant residents in The Gambia that have repatriated permanently have raised concerns about their non-inclusion in the new 2020 draft constitution recently rejected by lawmakers.
State Counsel A.M. Yusuf yesterday told the High Court in Banjul before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh that the prosecution would call three more witnesses in the murder case involving Yankuba Touray. He added that they received a call from the TRRC that they are putting more effort to produce the statement requested by Defence Counsel Sissoho.
