Essa Faal departed from his promise of being courteous to former NIA director of operations Salmina Drammeh by blasting him for lying to the TRRC.
Drammeh had earlier on, on Monday complained that it was wrong to tell an ‘elderly’ person he is lying.
“I’m ashamed to tell you that you lied,” Faal told Drammeh when he began his testimony before the TRRC on Monday morning. The witness had testified he knew about only two torture incidents at the NIA.
“You don’t tell an elderly person that you are lying,” Drammeh told Faal. Faal then rowed back a little by saying he would now use the word ‘false’ instead of ‘lie’.
Drammeh continued his testimony Monday afternoon which saw Faal not living up to the pledge.
The witness got Faal frustrated when he said former rebel Balo Kanteh was lying when he said security officials began beating him at the gate of the NIA, as soon as he entered.
“He is lying,” Drammeh told Faal who asked him whether the ex-rebel was lying.
Essa Faal then blasted: “Mr witness, I am sorry to tell you if there is anyone lying about this it’s you. Mr witness you told the commission a little while ago, five minutes ago that when the guy arrived and alighted from the vehicle, all of you guys were emotional, you descended on him and he was being beaten as he was taken away to the hall.
“I said mob justice and you said I am giving a legal description. I asked you to give a factual description and I asked you two times. You did not answer that question and we moved on. I can remember exactly what you said.”
Drammeh who looked unhappy fired back: “Counsel, are you trying to play on my intelligence or what? Did I say on arrival at the gate I was present?”
Faal then countered: “No, you said he was being beaten from there, [that] all of you descended on him, you’re beating him as he was being carried away.”
