By: Isatou Sarr
Chief Prison Officer Lamin Fadera on Tuesday testified before the Banjul High Court in the murder trial of former Jungler operative Sanna Manjang, telling the court that he acted under orders and fear when masked men allegedly removed detainees from Mile 2 Prison.
Fadera appeared as Prosecution Witness Five before Justice S.K. Jobarteh.
The witness, who served at Mile 2 Prison’s Security Wing Number Five between 2005 and 2011, told the court that he was a newly trained prison officer in 2006 when soldiers and civilians linked to the failed coup attempt were detained at the facility.
He recounted an incident during a night shift between midnight and 1 a.m. when men dressed in black arrived at the prison gate demanding access.
“I refused to open the gate for them because I did not know who they were and I could not see their faces,” Fadera testified.
He said that after repeated knocking, he opened a small window and recognised Captain Bora Colley. According to the witness, his senior officer then instructed him to open the gate.
Fadera told the court that one of the men handed him a list containing names including Mr. Faal, Pierre Mendy, Yaya M.S. Darboe and Faring Sanyang.
“I took the list, opened the cells, brought them out and handed them over to the men in black as instructed,” he said.
The detainees were reportedly returned around 4 a.m., with some allegedly showing visible injuries.
“Some of the inmates had injuries on their body,” Fadera testified, adding that the detainees requested medical attention. He said he contacted the prison medic but was informed that the officer was occupied.
The witness further stated that the men in black came for detainees on several occasions.
During cross-examination, defence counsel S.K. Jobe challenged Fadera’s testimony and suggested that no inmates had sustained injuries. However, the witness maintained that detainee Bunja Darboe had suffered a broken arm.
Asked whether it was his responsibility to protect prisoners, Fadera agreed, but explained that he felt powerless to resist the men who arrived at the prison.
“I didn’t have power to stop them,” he told the court.
Fadera denied facilitating torture, insisting that he merely obeyed instructions from his superiors out of fear. He added that he only administered Paracetamol to detainees upon their return and provided no further treatment.
On the issue of the list of names, the witness said the document could not be found and had previously been in the possession of the late Chief Jammeh. Defence counsel suggested that Fadera was making allegations against a deceased person who could no longer respond, but the witness denied the accusation.
Fadera also confirmed that he did not testify before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), though he was reportedly contacted last month regarding his account.
Defence counsel further accused the witness of being untruthful, an allegation Fadera rejected.
Following his testimony, Prosecution Witness Five was discharged, and Justice S.K. Jobarteh adjourned the case to 19 May 2026 for continuation of proceedings.
