An unnamed witness has testified before a Swiss court that former Gambian Interior Minister Ousman Sonko, who is on trial for rape and crimes against humanity, was fully aware that torture was occurring under the reign of former dictator Yahya Jammeh.

While on trial, Sonko refuted every accusation made against him about this plaintiff.

Trial International claims that when the witness was asked to make a statement, he remembered being taken into custody on March 21, 2006. On his first night in jail, he was taken from the Mile 2 prison to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) building. An investigation panel was established there by members of the Army, the so-called Junglers, the NIA, and, most notably, Ousman Sonko, as well as the former Deputy Chief of Defense Staff and the head of the police major crime unit. The plaintiff also stated that he was subjected to a violent interrogation the night before his arrest because he was suspected of taking part in the coup. After that, he was brought to the NIA several more times and subjected to torture. In addition, he received threats of death including firearms. He was made to sign declarations against his will many times. He said that Ousman Sonko and the other panel members were fully aware that torture was taking place while this inquiry was ongoing, and he still has severe physical and psychological impacts from it. The plaintiff was only brought before a court months after his detention, and the accused really seen the plaintiff’s own wounds. The plaintiff, along with other defendants, was found guilty and given very lengthy jail terms. He was imprisoned for nine years under harsh circumstances. He described the situation in the Gambia at the time as being under a totalitarian regime. Individuals were taken into custody and locked up without ever appearing in court. Some vanished. People were always afraid.