By Isatou Sarr
Sanna Manjang, an alleged member of “Junglers” hit squad under Jammeh has denied participating in the alleged torture of two men accused of involvement in 2006 coup plot, as he concluded his defense testimony at the High Court in Banjul.
Manjang made the denial on Friday, Oct. 16, before Justice Sidi K. Jobarteh, maintaining that he was stationed in Kanilai at the time of the alleged assaults on Tamsir Jasseh and military officer Yaya M.S. Darboe and had no operational responsibilities in the Greater Banjul Area.
He faces two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm under Section 228 of the Criminal Code. The charges relate to the alleged assault of Jasseh and Darboe in March 2006, when Manjang was allegedly a member of the hit squad also known as the “Black Blacks.”
During his testimony, Manjang said he served in the Gambia Armed Forces from 1995 to 2017 and was posted to Kanilai from 2003 to 2017.
He told the court that his duties included patrolling border communities and protecting lives and property. He said military personnel were assigned specific areas of responsibility and that he did not conduct operational duties in the Greater Banjul Area.
Manjang said he first learned of the alleged coup plot involving Ndure Cham through a signal message circulated within the military. According to his testimony, the message mentioned Jasseh and Darboe among those linked to the alleged plot.
He said a separate team based at State House was responsible for operations in the Greater Banjul Area and received instructions from there.
Manjang identified Nuha Badjie whom he said headed the team, as well as Momodou Jarju, also known as Rambo, Michael Correa, Fansu Nyabally, Mustapha Sanneh and Sulayman Sambou as members he could recall.
He denied ever working with the team, adding that he understood the terms “Junglers” and “Black Blacks” to be names used by members of the public rather than official military designations.
He said he became familiar with the terms during the proceedings of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) and had no direct association with the group.
Manjang also denied participating in the arrest of Jasseh and Darboe, saying he remained in Kanilai while personnel based at State House carried out the operation. He testified that he learned of their detention through a military signal message.
He maintained that he had not personally known either man before the alleged coup plot became known within the military.
Regarding Darboe, Manjang acknowledged that he had encountered him during his military training but said he did not know him personally because recruits were trained in large numbers.
“Yaya has never worked directly or indirectly under me before. I can’t remember where he worked under me,” he told the court.
Manjang said his regimental powers included disciplining soldiers but maintained that he had never participated in Darboe’s alleged torture.
On Jasseh, he claimed that the complainant had not mentioned his name during his TRRC testimony and only implicated him after his arrest several months ago.
“Tamsir Jassey has mentioned names of several people at the TRRC without my name. So it is only when I was arrested by the Gambia Armed Forces that Tamsir came up with all these allegations,” he said.
Manjang rejected the allegations against him, telling the court that he had never participated in the arrest or torture of either complainant.
The defense subsequently closed its examination-in-chief, after which State Counsel E.R. Durgan began cross-examining the accused.
During cross-examination, Manjang reiterated that he had served in Kanilai for 14 years and that his military career spanned from 1995 to 2017. He said he joined the army as a private soldier after completing his training at Fajara Barracks and was later promoted through the ranks to lieutenant colonel.
He also described his work schedule in Kanilai and said his duties at the border often left him with limited time for his family.
Asked about former President Yahya Jammeh’s presence in Kanilai, Manjang said it was the former president’s hometown, although Jammeh stayed in Banjul and visited Kanilai when he wished.
When asked which witnesses had mentioned his name during the TRRC proceedings, Manjang identified Malick Jatta and Omar Jallow, adding that he could not recall others.
The prosecution indicated that it had no further questions but intended to file a motion of execution before the next hearing.
Justice Jobarteh directed the prosecution to serve the defense with the motion by Oct. 23. The case was adjourned until Nov. 6 at 9:30 a.m. for the hearing of the motion.