By Alhagie Jobe
The Gambia government through its legal representatives in the ongoing trial involving the state versus opposition UDP members on Thursday, June 16, 2016, confirmed in an open court that Ebrima Solo Sandeng, the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) youth leader indeed died in state custody.
An affidavit signed by Saihou Omar Jeng, the NIA director of operations confirmed the death of Mr Sandeng during arrest and interrogation. Mr Jeng has ever since been accused of supervising the torture and killing of Mr Sandeng. Mr Jeng’s name appeared in both affidavits of Fatoumatta Jawara and Nogoi Njie who were equally tortured the same day alongside the late Solo Sandeng.
The late Mr Sandeng and a dozen others were arrested on April 14, in the strategic Westfield junction during a peaceful protest demanding justice and electoral reforms. He was later reported dead under the custody of the notorious National Intelligent Agency after severe torture.
The beating and killing of Mr Sandeng was also confirmed by a co-accused person Nogoi Njie, another UDP party member in a leak affidavit detailing her ordeal after been seriously tortured. Nogoi narrated how Mr. Sandeng was beaten, humiliated, and treated like an animal which resulted to his subsequent death.
Below is the leak affidavit signed by Mr Jeng, the NIA director of operations confirming the death of Mr Sandeng and presented in court by state prosecutors on Thursday June 16, in reply to a Habeas Corpus earlier filed by defense lawyers on behalf of Mr Sandeng.
