 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Mar 2007 : 13:02:50
|
TAMSIR JASSEH & CO TREASON TRIAL
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
Tijan Bojang, the independent witness during the obtaining of statements from the suspects of the March 2006 alleged coup plot, on Wednesday, March 21st, appeared before Justice Yeboah at the High Court.
Tijan Bojang told the court that he knows Lamin Cham, the police detective, who called him to appear as a witness while he was obtaining the statement of the 5th accused person, Tamsir Jasseh. Bojang made this statement when he was cross examined by the defence team. He said it was in the morning of March 25th, 2006 that Cham called him, but he could not tell the court at what time it was in the morning. He also said that he arrived at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Headquarters in the same morning, but met Tamsir Jasseh in the afternoon.
Bojang said that Cham introduced him to Tamsir Jasseh in English and he too spoke to the accused in English. He said that he can read and write, but refused to tell the court why he left school when he was at grade seven. He added that the sheet containing Jasseh's statement was blank when he arrived at the NIA and it was Jasseh who wrote his statement. He said he found Cham's two colleagues at the NIA, namely Boto Keita and Abdoulie Sowe, who he said just sitting and chatting. Bojang also said that he wrote nothing there and his name was filled in by Cham after which he signed as a witness.
He stated that he only saw Jasseh at the room where the statement was obtained and denied seeing him being escorted by armed soldiers from the Mile 2 Central Prisons to the NIA Office.
Bojang went on to say that he does not know what might have happened to Jasseh before his arrival. He said Jasseh was not forced or beaten to give his statement, noting that he did it out of his own will.
He said that he did not see any armed officers at the NIA and no other investigator was present apart from Cham, Keita and Sowe. According to him, Jasseh wrote his statement on a paper given to him by Cham. He also said that Jasseh signed after writing, and he also did the same.
Concluding the cross-examination, he said that he is not an NIA agent, but a masoner, a trade he learnt from his parents. The trial continues on April 4th.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No.35/2007, 26-27 March, 2007
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2007 : 14:01:26
|
AT THE TREASON TRIAL:
TAMSIR JASSEH ALLEGES TORTURE, THREATS
By Fabakary B. Ceesay and Bubacarr K. Sowe
Tamsir Jasseh, the Former Director of Immigration, and a businessman, who currently faces charges of treason at the High Court, has testified before Justice Anin Yeboah on Wednesday, 2 May. Mr. Jasseh alleges that he was subjected to severe torture and threats before his statement was obtained.
According to Mr. Jasseh, he was arrested at his residence at Kotu on the night of 24 March 2006, at around 10 to 11pm. He said that he was woken up by a knock on his window and was told by his watchman that there are people who wanted to see him. He said that there were lots of gunshots into the air and banging on his door. He said that he came to the front door and saw a soldier standing with an AK 47 and that he recognised him as Warrant Officer Tumbul Tamba. “I then opened the door and saw my watchman screaming. He was being beaten by soldiers.” Tamba told me that the watchman refused to obey them. Unfortunately they were speaking to the watchman in Mandinka who is a Nigerian and did not understand what they were saying. Tamba ordered them to stop beating him.”
Mr. Jasseh narrated that he was told by Tumbul Tamba that he was under arrest but that when he requested to know why he was under arrest he was told that he would know when they reach there. He said that he was taken to Mile Two Prison at maximum security wing at around midnight. He said that at around 2:30am he was escorted to the NIA headquarters by a group of young soldiers who wore nets over their faces. He noted that he was handcuffed and made to lay face up in a Land Rover pick up. Mr. Jasseh told the court that he was taken to a room with about 25 men and was asked by Musa Jammeh what he knew about the alleged coup and that he denied any knowledge about it. “After several questions they decided to tell me what I am supposed to know, questions were coming from all angles. There was a lot of disagreement among themselves, some are saying there was a coup and others are saying, it is only a mere suspicion.” Mr. Jasseh explained that he was told by Mr. Hydara, an NIA Officer, that word had reached the president that there was a coup plot. He said that Hydara then asked the soldiers to take him after he refused to write a statement. “As we come downstairs, we met the group that escorted me to the NIA and a black plastic bag was put over my head and I was escorted to the back of the building, and asked to kneel down. They were beating me and pouring very cold ice water on me and it lasted for twenty five (25) minutes. All those moments they were asking me who were involved. They asked if the Vice President was involved, cabinet members and Sheriff Dibba,” he explained. Jasseh indicated that the torturing group was being led by Musa Jammeh and including the late Tumbul Tamba, Lance Corporal Malick Jatta, Lance Corporal Mustapha Sanneh, Lance Corporal Michael Correa, Corporal Malick Jeng, Corporal Sana Manjang and Corporal Nuha Badjie Mr. Jasseh said that he was later taken back to the panel and there Lance Corporal Malick Jatta took out a 9mm gun and stuck it in his mouth, and hold his cheeks, saying to him “Do you think you are in the United States?”. Jasseh added “I could smell his mouth which was stinking with Marijuana,”. Mr. Jassey said that it was then that he accepted to do what they wanted him to write. He said that Corporal Lamin Cham then came into the place with a piece of paper and told him that he was to write what he knew about the coup. He said that he told Lamin Cham that the procedures are not proper and that he needed a lawyer. He said that Lamin Cham told him “Sir, the police are only rubber stamps, we are not the ones running the investigations.” Jasseh noted that he wrote his statement at around 4:00am with Lamin Cham dictating him. He added that he never knew the independent witness Tijan Bojang and that he never saw him on that night. He said that, on several occasions, he will be escorted to the NIA. Mr. Jasseh said on the 25 March 2006, he was taken to his residence by a group led by the late Tumbul Tamba. He said that his vehicle and some other properties were confiscated. He said that on 6 April he was taken to the NIA where he found Sheriff Dibba, Mr. Jawla and Mariam Denton, his lawyer. He noted that he did not know what Mariam Denton was doing there but that he knew that she was under arrest. “I was asked to write about those people but I refused. Warrant Officer Jabang and Hydara told me that if I don’t they will step out and soldiers will step in and I knew what that meant, I will be tortured and the last thing I would want was for the soldiers to step in,” he explained. He said he went ahead to write in the presence of Lamin Cham. He explained that on the 22 June 2006, he was escorted with four other accused persons, namely, Alieu Jobe, Omar Faal Keita, Bunja Darboe and M.A Bah. He said that he was asked to copy from another paper word for word. He said that he complained to them that he is under the remand of the court and that he requested for his lawyer, Lamin Camara. He said that they told him that if he does not write they will put him in the NIA Cell. Based on the threats, he said he decided to copy directly. He complained that he never wrote that statement voluntarily but that under force and fear for his life. He noted that he never knew the independent witness Babou Loum prior to his testimony in court. He narrated that the day he was taken before GRTS he was asked to read out his statement five (5) times. He said that on that day, he was in the room with Tumbul Tamba, Hydara, Musa Jammeh and Harry Sambou, the then Director of NIA.
During cross examination by state counsel, E.O Fagbenle, Jasseh said that he was once a Deputy Inspector General of Police and Director of Immigration. He said that he had served in the United States Marines. He said that coup d’etat are military offences. He said that he had never heard of any coup plot by United States soldiers. Mr. Jasseh denied that he went to see his lawyer in the evening of 22 March 2006 to ask for advice concerning legal implications. He denied being adviced by his lawyer to cooperate with the authorities. He lamented that everything he wrote in connection to the alleged coup was forced on him. He said that he does not know the names of the soldiers who wore nets over their faces. He said that he new Tumbul Tamba at his house on the night of his arrest when Tumbul introduced himself to him. He noted that he does not know the names of the people at the panel room who were about twenty five people. He said that he told the panel that he knew nothing about the alleged coup plot. He said that he copied the statement in five (5) minutes. When asked if he can copy the same statement within five minutes in court, he said, “If the court can put me in the same mood, where soldiers beat me up, I can write it in five minutes.” He asserted that all what he said over GRTS was what they wanted him to say. He indicated that Sheriff Dibba he mentioned was the former Speaker of the National Assembly. He said that he met Mr. Dibba at the NIA and as he was taken back to Mile Two Prison, Mr. Dibba remained at the NIA. Cross examination continuous at the next sitting.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 51/2007, 4 - 6 May, 2007 |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
 |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2007 : 14:01:26
|
AT THE TREASON TRIAL:
TAMSIR JASSEH ALLEGES TORTURE, THREATS
By Fabakary B. Ceesay and Bubacarr K. Sowe
Tamsir Jasseh, the Former Director of Immigration, and a businessman, who currently faces charges of treason at the High Court, has testified before Justice Anin Yeboah on Wednesday, 2 May. Mr. Jasseh alleges that he was subjected to severe torture and threats before his statement was obtained.
According to Mr. Jasseh, he was arrested at his residence at Kotu on the night of 24 March 2006, at around 10 to 11pm. He said that he was woken up by a knock on his window and was told by his watchman that there are people who wanted to see him. He said that there were lots of gunshots into the air and banging on his door. He said that he came to the front door and saw a soldier standing with an AK 47 and that he recognised him as Warrant Officer Tumbul Tamba. “I then opened the door and saw my watchman screaming. He was being beaten by soldiers.” Tamba told me that the watchman refused to obey them. Unfortunately they were speaking to the watchman in Mandinka who is a Nigerian and did not understand what they were saying. Tamba ordered them to stop beating him.”
Mr. Jasseh narrated that he was told by Tumbul Tamba that he was under arrest but that when he requested to know why he was under arrest he was told that he would know when they reach there. He said that he was taken to Mile Two Prison at maximum security wing at around midnight. He said that at around 2:30am he was escorted to the NIA headquarters by a group of young soldiers who wore nets over their faces. He noted that he was handcuffed and made to lay face up in a Land Rover pick up. Mr. Jasseh told the court that he was taken to a room with about 25 men and was asked by Musa Jammeh what he knew about the alleged coup and that he denied any knowledge about it. “After several questions they decided to tell me what I am supposed to know, questions were coming from all angles. There was a lot of disagreement among themselves, some are saying there was a coup and others are saying, it is only a mere suspicion.” Mr. Jasseh explained that he was told by Mr. Hydara, an NIA Officer, that word had reached the president that there was a coup plot. He said that Hydara then asked the soldiers to take him after he refused to write a statement. “As we come downstairs, we met the group that escorted me to the NIA and a black plastic bag was put over my head and I was escorted to the back of the building, and asked to kneel down. They were beating me and pouring very cold ice water on me and it lasted for twenty five (25) minutes. All those moments they were asking me who were involved. They asked if the Vice President was involved, cabinet members and Sheriff Dibba,” he explained. Jasseh indicated that the torturing group was being led by Musa Jammeh and including the late Tumbul Tamba, Lance Corporal Malick Jatta, Lance Corporal Mustapha Sanneh, Lance Corporal Michael Correa, Corporal Malick Jeng, Corporal Sana Manjang and Corporal Nuha Badjie Mr. Jasseh said that he was later taken back to the panel and there Lance Corporal Malick Jatta took out a 9mm gun and stuck it in his mouth, and hold his cheeks, saying to him “Do you think you are in the United States?”. Jasseh added “I could smell his mouth which was stinking with Marijuana,”. Mr. Jassey said that it was then that he accepted to do what they wanted him to write. He said that Corporal Lamin Cham then came into the place with a piece of paper and told him that he was to write what he knew about the coup. He said that he told Lamin Cham that the procedures are not proper and that he needed a lawyer. He said that Lamin Cham told him “Sir, the police are only rubber stamps, we are not the ones running the investigations.” Jasseh noted that he wrote his statement at around 4:00am with Lamin Cham dictating him. He added that he never knew the independent witness Tijan Bojang and that he never saw him on that night. He said that, on several occasions, he will be escorted to the NIA. Mr. Jasseh said on the 25 March 2006, he was taken to his residence by a group led by the late Tumbul Tamba. He said that his vehicle and some other properties were confiscated. He said that on 6 April he was taken to the NIA where he found Sheriff Dibba, Mr. Jawla and Mariam Denton, his lawyer. He noted that he did not know what Mariam Denton was doing there but that he knew that she was under arrest. “I was asked to write about those people but I refused. Warrant Officer Jabang and Hydara told me that if I don’t they will step out and soldiers will step in and I knew what that meant, I will be tortured and the last thing I would want was for the soldiers to step in,” he explained. He said he went ahead to write in the presence of Lamin Cham. He explained that on the 22 June 2006, he was escorted with four other accused persons, namely, Alieu Jobe, Omar Faal Keita, Bunja Darboe and M.A Bah. He said that he was asked to copy from another paper word for word. He said that he complained to them that he is under the remand of the court and that he requested for his lawyer, Lamin Camara. He said that they told him that if he does not write they will put him in the NIA Cell. Based on the threats, he said he decided to copy directly. He complained that he never wrote that statement voluntarily but that under force and fear for his life. He noted that he never knew the independent witness Babou Loum prior to his testimony in court. He narrated that the day he was taken before GRTS he was asked to read out his statement five (5) times. He said that on that day, he was in the room with Tumbul Tamba, Hydara, Musa Jammeh and Harry Sambou, the then Director of NIA.
During cross examination by state counsel, E.O Fagbenle, Jasseh said that he was once a Deputy Inspector General of Police and Director of Immigration. He said that he had served in the United States Marines. He said that coup d’etat are military offences. He said that he had never heard of any coup plot by United States soldiers. Mr. Jasseh denied that he went to see his lawyer in the evening of 22 March 2006 to ask for advice concerning legal implications. He denied being adviced by his lawyer to cooperate with the authorities. He lamented that everything he wrote in connection to the alleged coup was forced on him. He said that he does not know the names of the soldiers who wore nets over their faces. He said that he new Tumbul Tamba at his house on the night of his arrest when Tumbul introduced himself to him. He noted that he does not know the names of the people at the panel room who were about twenty five people. He said that he told the panel that he knew nothing about the alleged coup plot. He said that he copied the statement in five (5) minutes. When asked if he can copy the same statement within five minutes in court, he said, “If the court can put me in the same mood, where soldiers beat me up, I can write it in five minutes.” He asserted that all what he said over GRTS was what they wanted him to say. He indicated that Sheriff Dibba he mentioned was the former Speaker of the National Assembly. He said that he met Mr. Dibba at the NIA and as he was taken back to Mile Two Prison, Mr. Dibba remained at the NIA. Cross examination continuous at the next sitting.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 51/2007, 4 - 6 May, 2007 |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
Posted - 12 May 2007 : 19:17:59
|
TAMSIR JASSEH FINISHES EVIDENCE IN TREASON TRIAL
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
Tamsir Jasseh, Former Director of Immigration and ex-deputy Inspector General of Police, who is accused of treason on Wednesday May 9, finished his testimony in a trial within a trial (voir dire) at the High Court.
Under cross examination with state counsel, Emmanuel Fagbenle, Jasseh said that during the cause of his arrest he met Sheriff Mustapha Dibba, then speaker of the National “Assembly and Mariama Denton, a barrister at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
Jasseh told the court that he does not know whether Dibba and Denton did make statements at the NIA.
The accused person also said that he was in court when Denton appeared in their trial as a prosecution witness.
Asked by the prosecutor whether he is aware that Denton was arrested when he had already made the statement, Jasseh responded that he made the statement after Denton’s arrest.
Defence counsel, Lamin Camara, who has opened his defence in the voir dire told the court that his upcoming witness was not in court and the trial was set for continuation on May 16 and 17 before Justice Avril Anin-Yeboah.
Jasseh with Alieu Jobe, ex-accountant General, Omar Fall Keita an alleged Marabout and Demba Dem, a Former parliamentarian, were indicted for alleged involvement in the March 2006 Coup Plot.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 54/2007, 11 - 13 May, 2007 |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11835 Posts |
Posted - 12 May 2007 : 19:17:59
|
TAMSIR JASSEH FINISHES EVIDENCE IN TREASON TRIAL
By Bubacarr K. Sowe
Tamsir Jasseh, Former Director of Immigration and ex-deputy Inspector General of Police, who is accused of treason on Wednesday May 9, finished his testimony in a trial within a trial (voir dire) at the High Court.
Under cross examination with state counsel, Emmanuel Fagbenle, Jasseh said that during the cause of his arrest he met Sheriff Mustapha Dibba, then speaker of the National “Assembly and Mariama Denton, a barrister at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
Jasseh told the court that he does not know whether Dibba and Denton did make statements at the NIA.
The accused person also said that he was in court when Denton appeared in their trial as a prosecution witness.
Asked by the prosecutor whether he is aware that Denton was arrested when he had already made the statement, Jasseh responded that he made the statement after Denton’s arrest.
Defence counsel, Lamin Camara, who has opened his defence in the voir dire told the court that his upcoming witness was not in court and the trial was set for continuation on May 16 and 17 before Justice Avril Anin-Yeboah.
Jasseh with Alieu Jobe, ex-accountant General, Omar Fall Keita an alleged Marabout and Demba Dem, a Former parliamentarian, were indicted for alleged involvement in the March 2006 Coup Plot.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 54/2007, 11 - 13 May, 2007 |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
