The witness refused to assassinate the journalist Deyda Hydara when Jammeh ordered him to do so and had also declined to join the junglers, a paramilitary group— that operated between 1994 and 2016, under the reign of former dictator Jammeh, he told a U.S. federal court.
However, Correa’s attorneys argued that junglers were living in constant fear that if refused orders could also get killed by fellow junglers.
Sanyang becomes the fourth witness to testify on Thursday in Sang Correa trial, where Christina Giffin, a U.S. prosecutor asked Sanyang about his experiences before 2006.
An exhibit of places were Sanyang got tortured scars, particularly the cigarette burns and bayonet slashes on his arm—he carried from being beaten in 2006 by Correa and his team junglers, were shown to the juries.
"They told me I must confess, or they would deal with me,'" he told the court. Although, Sanyang was not involved in the coup against Jammeh, but he said he had no choice but to confess to save his life and body.
“I did not feel it was a legal cause,” Sanyang said.
“Mr Sanyang, where you asked to commit an act of violence by someone in the Jammeh’s regime?” Giffin asked.
Witness responded positive. “Who asked you do that?’’ The president (Jammeh), replied Sanyang.
“When did that happen?”
“It happened in 2004.”
“What did he ask you to do?”
He said Jammeh ordered him to assassinate Deyda Hydara.
“To assassinate Deyday Hydara?” Sanyang responded in positive.
“What did you do?” asked state prosecutor.
Sanyang stated that he rejected the assignment.
“And what happened when you rejected President Jammeh’s order?”
Sanyang said he told Jammeh if it was a fact that the allegations against Deyda were true—if he was investigated by the police and the NIA—if found wanting then if he stood trial he would not escape.”
“So, you told the president, he (Deyda) should be investigated?
The witness replied in positive.
“So, what happen next?” Sanyang said Jammeh approached him with the same assignment to assassinate journalist Hydara.
“I was told about it again to assassinate Deyda), which I never wanted to,’’ he told the prosecutor.
“Who told you again?”
By the same man (Jammeh), Sanyang recalled. “What did he tell you to do?” He said he was told the same thing.
“And did you, do it?’’
No, he replied, stating that he didn’t carry the order.
“Was that the end of it,’’ prosecutor further asked.
Sanyang responded in negative, saying Jammeh would repeatedly tell me about the assassination against Deyda—until he (Sanyang) was also put in the assassination list after refusing to execute the order, but he later managed to escape.”
“Did you carry out the assassination order?”
Witness replied in the negative.
“Can you remind us of when you first learnt about the junglers?”
He said he came to know about the junglers in 2003 –2004.
“Where you ever asked to join the junglers at some point?” He replied positive.
“Who asked you to join?” the witness responded saying that was the then State Guard Commander Kalifa Baginka, who he said approached him and told him to join the junglers group.
“You were offered any incentive to join the junglers?”
He said he was offered a brand-new Mitsubishi pick up and he rejected it.
“Did you later join the junglers, asked the prosecutor?
Sanyang replied in negative.
“Why not?”
He said because he felt that it was not a legal course.
