Ensa Badjie Alleges Torture

FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)

Abubacarr Saidykhan

28 April 2011

Principal accused person and former Inspector General of Police, Ensa Badjie, on Wednesday informed the Special Criminal Court in Banjul presided over by Justice Enwa Ikpala that while he was at the NIA headquarters, he was handcuffed and tortured by one Omar Cham and his team in their efforts to force him (Ensa) to sign statements which were not made by him.

Former IGP Badjie made this remark before a crowded court room while he was being led in his examination in chief by his counsel, Borry Touray.

The State was represented by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mikalu Abdoulahi.

The former IGP said he was handcuffed by one Omar Cham, an NIA operative who later brought him some statements for him to append his signatures on them. He said some of these statements are currently in Justice Amadi’s court, adding that after he (Ensa) read the statements, he refused to sign them, noting that Omar Cham then covered his head with a black plastic bag and some NIA operatives started beating him severely. He said as a result of the beatings, blood started to flow from his mouth. At this juncture, the first accused (Ensa Badjie) showed the court the scars he sustained from the physical torture he alleged.

The first accused said he then went to a tap to wash his face, adding that he was later brought back to the office to sign the statements, but blood stains were seen all over the statement. As a result of the blood stains, he said, Omar Cham tore those statements. He said the said Omar Cham is currently dismissed from service and he is currently in Dakar, noting that some of the panel members are currently appearing before the Banjul Magistrates Court for torturing some drug squad officers. He said the names of some of those panel members are Lamin Darboe and Alagie Morr Jobe. He said he was given a cotton wool to arrest his blood and later he was taken back to the panel. He said the panel consisted five NIA officers and four police officers.

He said during the investigation, Lamin Darboe and others at the panel protested that he (Badjie) was not at the panel to answer questions about allegations preferred against him, but to shed light on issues dealing with Sillaba Samateh.

Following his refusal, he said, all the other officers refused to take his statement and he (Ensa) was taken back to Mile 2 Central Prison.

He further told the court that on the 9th of May 2010, he was brought back to the NIA headquarters and he made a statement in the absence of an independent witness. He said he further asked the panelist if he deserves (Ensa) to be treated that way. He said some of them started crying. He said he demanded to be confronted with the prosecution witness 9Soriba Condeh and others); but the NIA officers refused to do so, noting that he was brought back to the NIA headquarters on the 10th of May 2010 at night by two NIA operatives named Baboucarr Bah and one Mr. Corka.

He said while at the central prison one fine day, Soriba Condeh PW1 abused his mother and that the matter was reported to the prison authorities which led to the involvement of the second accused person, CSP Ali Ceesay. He said Dodou Boy Janneh, a prosecution witness who was convicted for murder, while at the prison asked for his (Ensa) forgiveness that he (Janneh) gave a false testimony at the court in the case and promised not to give any testimony against him, noting that Dodou Boy Janneh did this action on Tobaski Day at the prison. He said this is why when Dodou Boy Janneh appeared before the court, he claimed to have been suffering from sickness.

Hearing continues on the 9th of May 2011. Ensa Badjie was arrested on the 2nd March 2010 and later whisked to the Central Prison at Mile Two.

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