Rédaction Africa Links 24 with babucarr balajo
Published on 2024-03-08 09:36:00
In the closing arguments of the Swiss court hearing on the charges brought against Ousman Sonko from the years 2000-2016, the prosecutor emphasized Sonko’s integral role in Yahya Jammeh’s criminal system. The prosecutor advocated for a life imprisonment sentence for Sonko, drawing parallels to Bai Lowe, a former Jammeh jungler who received a life sentence from a German court. The prosecutor asserted that Sonko’s crimes, when compared to Lowe’s, carried a heavier weight.
Sonko’s ascent in leadership during Jammeh’s dictatorship was highlighted by the prosecutor, noting his progression from state guard to Minister of Interior with significant control over the security department. The prosecutor rejected Sonko’s claims of being coerced by Jammeh, stating that as a close confidant of the president, Sonko was fully aware of his role in implementing Jammeh’s vision, which included systematic attacks on the civilian population.
The prosecutor detailed the charges against Sonko, accusing him of active participation in various crimes. One of the charges was the murder of Almamo Manneh, the former state guard commander. Sonko allegedly orchestrated Manneh’s death after revealing plans to overthrow Jammeh. Sonko lured Manneh to a meeting at Bund Road where he was then shot and killed.
Additionally, Sonko faced charges of serial rape, sexual abuse, torture, and deprivation of liberty. He was accused of raping Manneh’s wife between 2001 and 2005 before she fled to the U.S. Following a coup attempt in 2006, several individuals were tortured, including members of the National Assembly. Sonko denied involvement in these crimes, claiming ignorance, but witnesses stated otherwise.
Sonko was also accused of the murder of Baba Jobe, a prominent politician, during his tenure as Minister of Home Affairs in 2011. Jobe was suffocated to death by the junglers under Sonko’s alleged instructions. The prosecutor asserted that Sonko played a significant role in Jobe’s murder.
Another charge against Sonko was his involvement in the torture of members of the opposition party during a political demonstration in 2016, led by Solo Sandeng, who died as a result of the aggravated torture. The prosecutor highlighted the systematic repression by various state authorities under Sonko’s command, emphasizing his awareness of these crimes and failure to intervene.
In conclusion, the prosecutor argued that Sonko, as Minister of Interior, was complicit in serious crimes against humanity and should be held accountable. Despite Sonko’s denials, the prosecutor pointed to evidence indicating his active participation in these atrocities. The case against Sonko painted a picture of a man deeply entrenched in the brutal regime of Yahya Jammeh, responsible for heinous crimes against the Gambian people.
Read the original article on The Standard
