By Landing Colley
The nation’s top intelligence official has apologised to those tortured at the then National Intelligence Agency popularly known as NIA during the regime of former President Yahya Jammeh.
Ousman Sowe told TRRC: “everyone tortured is regrettable [and] I will apologise as I am concern, inflicting of torture is not the best way to procure evidence.”
He handpicked one Lamin Kabu saying: “I wish to apologise to Lamin Kabu for the torture that he was subjected to in the course of an investigation that was involving a matter [of] drug, in this case of immense national security threats of that time. I apologise for the wrongs meted on him.”
Meanwhile, he also admitted that torture was part of the National Intelligence Agency now renamed the State Intelligence Service which was once a feared Institutions during the regime of former President Yahya Jammeh.
When asked by TRRC lead Counsel Essa Faal: “Mr DG the evidence unfolded in this Commission shows it quite clear that torture was part of the modus operandi of the NIA?”
And the director general of the State Intelligence Service, Ousman Sowe replied: “True.” Mr Faal again questioned: “So torture was part of the culture at the NIA?”
Mr Sowe again replied: “true, yes I agree.”
But he said: “well torture was not part of every investigation that happened at the NIA I want to think. It did happen. Well, it was common.”
“Torture was not part of every investigation, it was common and in Lamin Kabu’s case I don’t expect him to be tortured as he was there to help in the investigation,” he said.
He added that the team brought before Lamin Kabu was detained overnight adding that he is not aware of their torture. “I handed them over for the investigation to proceed.”
Meanwhile, he said further to that everyone torture including Lamin Kabu was regrettable as he apologies to the victims. “As far as I’m concern inflicting of torture is not the best way to get evidence.”
NIA Involvement in drug dealing
He said “the interdiction I sent him was recent in 2017, but this particular case you are referring to I was not aware in this manner. When I assumed office, I already found him acquitted and discharged from this matter.”
He added that with this evidence if he is ask again, he will say ‘yes’ but he was not aware of it by then but if the lead counsel is referring to systematic organized operations of NIA involved in drug cases, he is not aware.
