Dr. Lamin Sise, Chairman of Gambia’s Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) has urged Lamin Babadinding Jobarteh, former Attorney General and Justice Minister to do justice to himself and the people of Bansang by exonerating his name in the cutting of the nipple of former Charles Taylor Rebel fighter Ballo Kanteh in 1996.
Ballo Kanteh among other rebel fighters of Charles Taylor invaded Farafenni Military Barracks in a failed attempt to overthrow the government of former President Yahya Jammeh in 1996. They were subsequently neutralised, arrested, tortured and prosecuted before been released through Presidential Pardon.
Ballo Kanteh earlier disclosed to the truth commission that former Justice Minister Lawyer Lamin Jobarteh popularly known as Babadinding Jobarteh has participated in his tortures during his arrest and detention and has personally cut his nipple with a razorblade during a panel interrogation conducted by Junta Soldiers and NIA operatives of the former President.
“Can you tell the people of Bansang what actually happened, do you cut Ballo Kanteh’s nipple or not. If you don’t do it, what did you know about the incident?” Chairman Sise rhetorically asked.
He added: “Am not pressurizing you and am not blaming you either but I think if you can tell your own people what happened so that they can raised their heads.
“The TRRC Chairman is believed to have hailed from the same community of Bansang with the former Justice Minister who has been adversely mentioned at the ongoing Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission vested with the responsibilities of unearthing the various abuses of the government of exiled former Gambian President Jammeh.
According to him, the people of Bansang have not been at ease since the day Ballo Kanteh alleged that the former Justice Minister Lamin Jobarteh was the one who cut his nipple, noting that it will be important for the native of Bansang to clear his name and the name of his community for committing such an inhumane act to a fellow human being. In his response the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lamin Jobarteh begins by holding and swearing by the Holy Quran three times before denying doing any such act to Ballo Kanteh.
“Thank you very much Chairman before I say anything I want to swear by the Holy Quran Billahi Wallahi Tallahi if I take a razorblade and cut the nipple of Ballo Kanteh may I not reaches the compound if I leave here. Billahi Wallahi Tallahi I don’t do it today, I will not do it tomorrow and I am sure there is no one who can stand before me to confirm seeing me doing such an act to Ballo Kanteh,” Lawyer Jobarteh responded.
He added: “No one will stand here to say that when Ballo Kanteh’s nipple was cut they saw blood oozing from his breast. If this act actually happened at least even one or two people would have seen blood oozing from Ballo Kanteh’s breast.”
Lawyer Jobarteh also requested for the hospital or clinic that treated Ballo Kanteh for such an inhumane treatment.
Lawyer Jobarteh was testifying before the truth Commission on 11th February, 2021, deny most allegations levelled against him by several other witnesses who appeared before the commission for his participation in various rights violations.