The High Court presided over by Justice Sidi K. Jobarteh, heard harrowing testimony as the State called its third prosecution witness (PW3), Tamsir Jasseh, in the trial of former military officer Sanna Manjang.
The proceedings began with the reading of a further Amended Information. The accused, Sanna Manjang, pleaded not guilty to all four counts brought against him.
Count 1 the murder of Kajali Jammeh, Count 2: the murder of Samba Wurry, Count 3 Assault causing actual bodily harm to Tamsir Jasseh and Count 4 Assault causing actual bodily harm to Yaya M.S. Darboe.
Taking the stand, Tamsir Jasseh detailed his career, born in Banjul, and a graduate of St. Augustine’s High School. He then pursued higher education in the United Kingdom, obtaining both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and Justice Services.
Enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1984, serving for 10 years and participating in the First Gulf War. Worked as a parole officer in the UK before being invited by the Gambian government in 1999 to assist in transforming the Gambia Police Force.
Served as Deputy Inspector General of Police (2002) and Director of Immigration (2005), though he noted both tenures ended with unexplained dismissals.
Then we moved to private business operating a restaurant on Independence Drive in Banjul which was closed at his arrest
He testified that his first encounter with the accused, Sanna Manjang, occurred on the night of March 26, 2006. He was arrested at his residence in Kotu by a team of military personnel that included Manjang, Michael Correa, Malick Jatta, Alieu Ceesay, Musa Jammeh, and Tumbul Tamba.
He was immediately transported to Mile 2 Prison and detained. At approximately 3:00 a.m. the following morning, Jasseh was removed from his cell and handed over to military personnel dressed in black, including the accused, who transported him to the NIA premises.
At the NIA, Jasseh described being brought before a “disorganised and chaotic” panel of military officers. He was interrogated rapidly regarding the alleged coup attempt led by Colonel Ndure Cham and asked to confess and write a statement.
“I heard screams from other rooms, indicating that people were being tortured,” Jasseh testified. Fearing for his safety after his request for a lawyer was ignored, he eventually agreed to write a statement. He noted that he was later forced to sign documents containing alterations to his original words and was threatened by Musa Jammeh that if he did not appear on national television to ask for forgiveness as requested by the president he would see the consequences.
Jasseh went into the graphic account of his physical abuse, identifying Sanna Manjang as a primary participant. Jasseh alleged that he was beaten for several hours on multiple occasions, sustaining injuries to his face, arms, and back.
He further stated that during one session, Michael Correa allegedly placed a plastic bag over his head while he was being beaten, forcing him to tear holes in the bag to breathe. Jasseh testified he was handcuffed, forced to kneel, and had cold water poured over him while being held down by Sanna Manjang while Malick Jatta beat him with a banana branch.
He was further intimidated with a pistol placed against his head.
Despite his injuries, Jasseh told the court he was consistently denied medical treatment upon his return to Mile 2 Prison.
He stated that he remained in Mile 2 for over 18 months before being sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment with hard labour for his alleged role in aiding Ndure Cham to evade justice.
While in prison, Jasseh stated that he was provided with a phone by one inmate Alieu Bah who was on death row, he used the phone to contact the former U.S. Ambassador to raise the alarm regarding their treatment.
After serving six and a half years, he was informed on September 17, 2012, that a U.S. delegation had secured his release through a presidential pardon. He was immediately flown to the United States with his family.
Concluding his evidence-in-chief, Jasseh informed the court that he returned to The Gambia in 2017. He currently serves as an adviser to the Inspector General of Police, where he is involved in formulating institutional policies and modernising the police force as part of ongoing security sector reforms.
Cross-Examination by Counsel S.K. Jobe
Counsel Jobe: All that was narrated to this court is what is in your statement to the police?
Tamsir Jasseh: Not all that was narrated here is in my statement.
Counsel Jobe: When was the statement given?
Tamsir Jasseh: A week or two ago; I cannot remember.
Counsel Jobe: Is it correct that you gave your statement to the police when the matter was already before the court?
Tamsir Jasseh: I know about the matter now that I am in court to give my testimony.
Counsel Jobe: Were you aware of his (Sanna Manjang’s) arrest?
Tamsir Jasseh: I am aware of his arrest, but the charges against him I don’t know.
Counsel Jobe: Which officer recorded your statement?
Tamsir Jasseh: I know him by face and not name.
Counsel Jobe: When you see the statement, would you be able to identify it, and how?
Tamsir Jasseh: Yes, I have read through it and would know if it still contains the same. I signed it and it includes my details.
The statement was identified and tendered as Defence Exhibit 1.
Counsel Jobe: Is it correct that at all material times, you were detained separately from the individuals you were convicted?
Tamsir Jasseh: Yes, it was a one-man cell; each in his own cell.
Counsel Jobe: When you were taken from the prison to the NIA and back, you were driven individually?
Tamsir Jasseh: No, it was as a group.
Counsel Jobe: All the torture described here happened during investigations?
Tamsir Jasseh: Yes.
Counsel Jobe: Did you raise it to the panel that you had been tortured?
Tamsir Jasseh: No.
Counsel Jobe: Did any members of the panel raise it with you when you appeared?
Tamsir Jasseh: Yes, Musa Jammeh separately. Retired commissioner Foday Barry said the torture needed to stop in the presence of the panel, but after he raised that, he was fired and taken to Mile 2 to join us.
Counsel Jobe: When Ndure Cham wanted to abscond from justice for treason, you aided him?
Tamsir Jasseh: Yes, I did.
Counsel Jobe: Do confessions come after you were beaten or before?
Tamsir Jasseh: It was after the beating.
Counsel Jobe: How did you know about the name “Junglers”?
Tamsir Jasseh: Bai Lowe, who is now serving a conviction in Germany when he was brought to Mile 2 after he fell out with the government, he told me they were known as Junglers.
Counsel Jobe: Did you know that the accused in 2006 was based and stationed in Kanilai?
Tamsir Jasseh: That is false.
Counsel Jobe: Are you mistaken for the accused with someone else?
Tamsir Jasseh: I know he is the one who tortured me.
Counsel Jobe: Throughout your life, during and after investigations, you had never had interaction with Sanna?
Tamsir Jasseh: You do not know me throughout my life, and when I was being tortured by Sanna Manjang, you were not there.
Counsel Jobe: Was there nobody there as a witness when these tortures happened?
Tamsir Jasseh: Wassa Camara, Dunja Darboe, Yahya Darbo, Pierre Mendy, and Alieu Lowe were there.
Following the cross-examination of Tamsir Jasseh (PW3) was discharged, the State informed the court that the next intended witness was unavailable due to illness. Defence Counsel Jobe objected indicating that the state has a list of witnesses and they can call another one of them in the absence of the other, Justice Jobarteh adjourned the matter to April 24th, 2026 at 09:30 for the testimony of PW4 and PW5.
