Capt. Wassa Camara, one of the alleged coup plotters in the foiled March 21 coup, last Wednesday informed the general court martial sitting at the Yundum Barracks about his encounter before making his cautionary statement.

Testifying in a trial within a trial, Capt. Camara told the court martial that on the 21st March 2006, he was at the military police office in Yundum Barracks to reinforce his men after receiving a call from Corporal Tambedou who was on duty. He said Corporal Tambedou told him that the present CDS, Col. Tamba, had informed them at the check point that Col. Ndure Cham, the then CDS, was planning a coup and therefore should be arrested once spotted.

He added that though he did not believe the information, he started executing the instruction by subsequently reinforcing his men, adding that after doing the reinforcement, he returned to the barracks only to find a vehicle at the gate.
He said the officers in the vehicle then told him that he was under arrest. He said Private Sarjo pointed the gun on his head and asked him to remember the instruction: “You either move fast or be shot.” He said Sgt. Mendy asked him to get into the vehicle, which he did, before being whisked away to 1st Infantry Battalion in Yundum.

He said he was disarmed by one Lt. Badjie who, he added, told him that he had to surrender his pistol as he was under arrest. He disclosed that before he could say any word, he was slapped from behind, adding that they started beating and kicking him repeatedly. He said it was during that process that RSM Bojang took the pistol and gave it to Lt. Badjie.
He said the slapping, beating and kicking lasted between 10-15 minutes. Capt. Camara stated that from the 1st Infantry Battalion, he was taken to Mile 2 Central Prisons where he was placed in a cell.
Still testifying, Capt. Camara said late at night he was collected from Mile 2, handcuffed and blind-folded and dropped in a car. He said he did not know where he was being taken to until when all of a sudden, he found himself at the NIA office.
He revealed that at the NIA office, he met military officers dressed in black and armed with AK 47s, PGLs and RPG7s, adding that he was taken to a room where he was told that he had to decide between death or being imprisoned at Mile 2.

He said he responded that it was better to be imprisoned than to be killed. He said the officers informed him that they had already got Capt. Seckan who, they claimed, was also part of the coup. He said he denied the allegation. He said they then asked him as to which one of the options of death or life he would choose.

He said he was beaten seriously, adding that officer Sanneh used the butt of the gun and hit him behind so hard that he fell down. While on the ground, he continued, they continued hitting him with guns, kicking and stamping him all over his body. He said WO2 Tamba told the officers to stand by in a final effort to decide whether he complied with them or be killed. He adduced that at that stage he had no option but to comply because of the torture he had undergone, leading to injuries on his body.

He added that in the morning of 22nd March 2006, he was again collected from Mile 2 and taken to the NIA where he faced a panel comprising CDS Col. Tamba, IGP Sonko and other officers. He said one Sowe told him not to forget his promise to comply the night before.
He said while he was before the panel, Baba Saho slapped him and Sowe asked him to identify what was on the table before him. He stated that at the time he saw a broken tooth, hammer and blood stain on the table. He said Abdoulie Sowe was instructed to obtain his statement which he wrote and signed.

He said on 23rd March 2006, he was again taken to the NIA at around mid night where he was questioned about his discussion with Capt. Yahya Darboe. There again, he said, he was gun butted to the ground, which was followed by yet another spate kicking until Col. Tamba called for a halt. He said he had thus to admit having had a discussion with Capt. Yahya Darboe.

He said on 24th March 2006, he was again taken to the NIA and was questioned yet again. He said Sowe brought some papers, which were said to contain Capt. Yahya Darboe’s statement with which he was asked to identify. He said he complied and wrote his statement and signed. On 26th March 2006, he went on, he was taken to the NIA where he faced the panel again. He said he found the TV man and was asked to face the television for a recording. After the recording, he said, he was taken back to Mile 2.

He further narrated that on 27th March 2006, he was taken to the NIA office again and confronted with the Capt. Yahya Darboe statement. He said Lance Corporal Jatta slapped him on that occasion, and the other officer held his head and knocked it against the wall until his head started bleeding, adding that he was beaten severely. He said he cried out until he was able to cry no more. He said in the morning of 28th March 2006, he wrote his statement and signed it. He said all the torture went on with little medical treatment accorded him.

Hearing continues.