Colorado, United States— Witness testimonies have commenced in the trial of Michael Sang Correa, who is being tried for his alleged participation in torture crimes in The Gambia.
The prosecution is presenting the case of five victims to the Jury, who Correa has been indicted for torturing and participating in the conspiracy to torture them.
The alleged former jungler, 45, appeared in court yesterday smartly dressed in a black suit combined with a white-collared shirt wearing glasses. He now keeps beards which appear to be dyed in the middle and high-top dreadlocks in a ponytail and neatly shaved sides.
‘The defendant had a choice’
The defense argued that Correa, whilst participating in the tortures he has been indicted for, was coerced and under duress.
However the prosecution, in their opening statement, told the Jury that Correa had a choice and only continued participation in the crimes at his own will. “People had choices. Junglers had choices. The defendant is on trial based on the choices he made,” state attorney Marie Zisa told the jury.
She added that there were Junglers who refused to participate in the tortures whilst others continued because they “enjoyed” it.
Defense attorney Jared Westbroek, told the Jury that former president Jammeh was the law, and had Correa refused his orders, he could have equally been arrested, tortured and killed.
Charges dismissed
Bunja Darboe, one of the witnesses in the indictment, will not be available to testify. According to the State, Darboe, who is still active in the military, will not be available because he has been deployed to another country.
Although this development has raised eyebrows and controversies back home, the dismissal of these charges means he is now being tried for his alleged participation in the torture of at least five victims. Other victims of the post 2006 failed coup attempt will also testify.
Darboe, who was amongst one of the most tortured following the March 2006 coup, was also a witness in the trial of former interior minister Ousman Sonko in Switzerland.
He had testified against Sonko for his involvement in his victimisation following the March 2006 coup attempt. This is one of the crimes Sonko has been convicted for.
Lieutenant Colonel Darboe is a soldier in The Gambia Army. At the time of the coup, he was the military assistant to Ndure Cham, the former Chief of Defense Staff who spearheaded the coup plot.
Following his gruesome torture by Correa and others, he was made to read a false statement on national television, confessing to his participation in the coup.
Correa will be sentenced to 20 years on each count if found guilty.
Mariam Sankanu’s trip to the United States of America to cover this trial has been funded by CJA.
