By Mustapha Jarju
Foday Jatta an alleged murderer who is standing trial in the killing of Yusupha Tabally at Dippakunda in July 2021 has accused the officers of the Gambia Police Force and the Anti-Crime Unit of torturing him while he was under their custody. Jatta is facing trial on a single count of murder before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of Banjul High Court.
Lawyers Omar Suso, M. Ceesay, and Tamsir B. Jallow of the National Agency for Legal Aid represented the accused and Lawyers Patrick Gomez and S Camara represented the State.
Jatta, during cross-examination in his defense trial, told the High Court on Tuesday, 19th July 2022, that after the incident at Dippakunda in the KMC in July 2021, he was called by the police through telephone to report to the Bokoteh police station where he later reported himself. He said upon his arrival at the Bokoteh police station when he identified himself to the police officers they started beating him and taking him to the Anti-Crime Unit and later proceeded to the Kotu Police station for his statement to be taken.
He continued that after his statement was taken they returned him to the Anti-crime Unit. “I found someone there who was insulting everyone and there were other detainees too but I was the only one they handcuffed,” he said.
Jatta added that while he was handcuffed he fell on a man who was insulting everyone at the Anti-crime unit who he said started fighting and punching him while he was on handcuff. He said he sought help from the Anti-crime officers there but none of them rescue him.
“One of the police also started beating me again saying I am the one who troubles the guy. And it was around 11 am that time from thereon they hanged me till the following day and they told me that, I will be killed like Jesus Christ, the following day one old man found me hanged up and he asked them to let me come down”, Jatta told the Court.
The accused added that the police told him that he is a criminal and they already know the offence he has committed.