By Buba Gagigo
A verdict is expected soon in the trial of Michael Sang Correa, an alleged member of the notorious Junglers death squad, as the prosecution formally rested its case on Monday in Denver, Colorado.
The final testimony came from retired Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent Barton Garrison, after which the defense opted not to call any witnesses, and Correa himself declined to testify following consultation with his legal team.
Correa is accused of participating in systematic torture under the regime of former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh. In court last Thursday, Agent Garrison detailed how Western Union money transfers made by Correa to his family in The Gambia in 2019 played a critical role in tracking him down and facilitating his arrest.
On Monday, the court listened to previously recorded audio of Correa’s interviews with U.S. immigration officials. In those recordings, Correa admitted to beating the late Pierre Mendy, claiming he acted under orders from fellow Jungler Nuha Badjie. He initially denied involvement but said Mendy—whom he described as a relative—urged him to carry out the orders. Correa said he stopped beating Mendy “immediately” after he confessed to having knowledge of the 2006 coup attempt. While recounting the incident, Correa broke down in tears and said, “I never in my entire life hit or killed anyone apart from Pierre Mendy.”
He also addressed his promotions in 2007 and 2009, denying they were linked to his role in torturing alleged coup plotters. “I was due for promotion,” he insisted.
Following Garrison’s testimony, Correa’s defense team chose not to cross-examine the witness and requested a brief recess to determine whether Correa would take the stand. After about thirty minutes, they informed the court that he would not testify. Both sides then delivered their closing arguments.
The defense argued that Correa was acting under duress, while the prosecution maintained he had ample opportunity to flee, citing the example of Ndure Cham, who escaped The Gambia with relative ease.
The jury is now deliberating and is expected to deliver a verdict as early as Tuesday. Correa faces six charges: conspiracy to commit torture, and the torture of Yaya Darboe, Tamsir Jasseh, Demba Dem, Pierre Mendy, and Pharing Sanyang.
Testimony of the Last Gambian Witness: Tamsir Jasseh
On Thursday, Tamsir Jasseh—the former Director General of the Gambia Immigration Department—took the stand as the final Gambian witness. He recalled being arrested multiple times by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) even before the failed 2006 coup, allegedly in connection with an audit report. He was eventually removed from his post as Director General.
Regarding the coup, Jasseh testified that Ndure Cham confided in him about the plot, expressing dissatisfaction with the country’s political environment. When the coup failed, Cham contacted Jasseh for assistance in escaping. Jasseh admitted to driving him to the Senegalese border, where Cham fled.
Jasseh said he was arrested on March 26, 2006, and detained at Mile 2 prison before being transferred to the NIA around 2 a.m. There, he faced a panel including then-Deputy Director of NIA Momodou Hydara and Harry Sambou. He said Hydara pressured him to cooperate, warning that failure to do so would result in being handed over to the Junglers.
Fearing for his life, Jasseh said he was coerced into writing a false statement admitting involvement in the coup and agreeing to make a televised apology to Yahya Jammeh. He complied after Hydara threatened to turn him over to the Junglers.
Jasseh described his torture at the NIA, claiming Michael Sang Correa placed a plastic bag over his head before he and other Junglers beat him with banana branches and doused him with cold water. Despite being a U.S. citizen, he said his torturers told him they didn’t care about his nationality.