By Adama Makasuba
Lamin Waa Juwara, has described his arrests as geared towards intimidation to stop him from fighting and that he was arrested and detained at Fajara police for 11 days before his transfer to Janjanbureh prison where he spent 3 months in jail in 1994.
The former Minister of Lands and Local Government under Jammeh’s regime told the Truth Commission while giving his testimonies, adding that: “I was not charged before any court of law, I was not allowed any family visitation.”
He said upon his released from prison that he was diagnosed with diabetes and admitted at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul.
He added that he was also arrested with Alhagie Karamo Touray at Brikama in relation to a mosque dispute and taken to Mile 2 prison in Banjul. He toting up that while on their way Baba Jobe with his boys stopped them and beat him to break his finger with the aim of killing him but those soldiers intervened and rescued him from their hands.
“Baba Jobe with his boys attacked me and broke my finger with the aim of killing me but some soldiers intervened and rescued me in their hands, he reiterated. Baba Jobe was working for Jammeh and not the government. He was part of the system that created problem for the people of this country,” he said.
Mr. Waa Juwara also explained that his detention at Janjanbureh prison by saying he was tortured by Momodou Bojang, the prison commissioner of MacCarty Division but he (Bojang) apologized to him before leaving for the United States of America.
He also said that: “I was tortured and incurred certain wounds from the beaten. In fact, I was molested.” He then admitted of written a letter to ex-president Jammeh while in detention at Janjanbureh prison that resulted to his release in prison and adding that the Junta was aware of his plans.”
