By Adama Makasuba
A Gambia Army officer, Babou Janha has told the Truth Reconciliation and Reparation Commission that he and other soldiers were imprisoned for ten years under the former regime.
Mr. Janha, a father of four, said him and former Interior Minister Alieu Bah and others were falsely charged with three counts which named two to be concealment of treason, concealment conspiracy.
“We were charged for concealment each of us was charged with three counts-concealment of treason, concealment conspiracy the other charge I forget it,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said there was a lot phone call from the officers whom were taking them into court and the detention places, adding that during the phone call he saw the then president of the martial court Sarjo Fofana talking to judge and halted the sitting of the court.
He added that after a talk among the president and the judge, they were sentenced to ten years in prison, adding that his family was only allowed to visit him once in a month which he said last for 25 minutes and that a barrier was put between him and his family.
Mr. Janha added: “I was in a one-man cell I personally never enjoy the big cells. We were not allowed to mingle with other prison inmates for four years.”
He told the commission that his imprisonment affected him so much, adding that he had to sell his compound during the court sittings and that his imprisonment also affected his family.
“In 2015 I was in the cell and I heard that the president has given a parole to political prisoners and others and we were part of that but they said with condition. They said we should stay away from politics and that if we are found again we will be sent to prison for ten years,” he said.